It is never too late to enjoy sustainable living, and your home is the perfect place to start the process. After all, you spend more time inside the property than in any other setting. So, the changes implemented here will make the most significant impact while also providing a platform for the rest of your life.
The first step, however, is to build a winning strategy. The five tips and projects below will allow you to build a more sustainable home environment for 2024 and beyond.
The world is in enough trouble that we all NEED to start where we are and go forward – what matters is that you start somewhere.
Susan Inglis, Executive Director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council
Focus On Sustainable Materials
When looking to create a more eco-friendly living environment, smarter material choices should be high on the agenda. This can start with using sustainable materials in your interior design plans, such as using granite worktops or the furniture that you choose. However, sometimes you have to consider the lifespan of a product and remember, some action is better than perfection. For example; Plastic shed bases might not stand out as the perfect choice, however, they provide are none toxic, chemically enert and reusable too, their durability will support your bid for eco-friendly living as they will help to make your deck or summerhouse last longer, so it’s a balance. We are not suggesting that you rush out and buy plastic, far from it, but simply saying that some action is better than perfection, and that you have to start your sustainable living journey where you can.
Switch To LED Lights
As far as interior design changes are concerned, LED light installations are perhaps the easiest. You can update every room of the home in a single day. The eco-friendly benefits compared to incandescent lights are a great incentive for making the update. However, you will also find that it adds versatility to your rooms. You can have multiple lighting styles and colours. Crucially, this simple update will transform your mindset, thus encouraging you to make further updates in the home.
Focus On Efficient Tech
Many people wrongly assume that modern tech is the enemy when trying to adopt a greener lifestyle. However, many modern appliances actively support the process of creating a greener home. Instantly boiling water taps can save energy. Meanwhile, filter taps can help you cut down on plastic usage as you won’t buy bottled water from the shops. Washing machines, dishwashers, and showers with efficient settings will feed into the process too. However, it is your job to learn which settings make the right impact.
Embrace Habitual Changes
Putting the right tools in place for a greener home is one thing. However, true success can only be achieved if you implement winning habits too. Growing fresh produce in the garden is the perfect choice. Aside from reducing food waste, it’ll improve your diet. Turning appliances off at night, closing doors for insulation, and reducing waste will all aid the cause. Once again, getting this right inside the home should lead to upgrades outside of the property too. Better still, the results may be seen with immediate results.
Focus On Maintenance Too
Finally, it’s one thing to cultivate a green home but another to sustain it. Where possible, a focus on repairs rather than replacements can work wonders. Plenty of DIY tutorials and guides will show you how to fix faults or restore items to their former glory.
From guidance on decluttering and living minimally to advice about plant-based foods to tips on repairing old clothes, this book touches every aspect of home life
This may be combined with ideas like upcycling to give products a new lease of life. It means you won’t have to dispose of products while you also won’t need new products to be manufactured. When combined with the other steps above, the results are incredible. You’ve got this.
