Sustainability at Home: Save Money and the Environment

The following contribution is from another author.

With the threat of climate change becoming increasingly prominent in modern society, it’s hard to avoid thinking about the future of the planet. A lot of people are talking about sustainability, but what does it really mean? And what can the average person really do to make a difference? You might be hesitant to spend your time thinking of ways to lead a more environmentally-conscious life. However, once you start thinking of all the money you could save by living sustainably, the entire concept might become much more appealing. In this article, we’ll give you some advice that could help you to create a sustainable home and cut your regular costs.

Consume less energy.

One of the most effective ways of cutting your household bills is to consume less energy. Most people try to do this. Even when you were a kid, your parents probably nagged you to turn off lights when you left a room. In the modern age, we all have so many electronic devices that you have to think about more than just flicking off a light switch. You have to think about computers and televisions that people might leave on standby. You probably leave your router switched on 24/7 too. Individually, your devices might only use a small amount of electricity, but the costs quickly add up. And the amount of energy consumed is significant. It affects the planet. Plus, it’ll reduce your monthly electricity bill.

Of course, turning off your many devices is only the start. Most people consume gargantuan amounts of energy just to heat up or cool down their houses. By insulating their homes more effectively, however, they could save a lot of money and protect the environment. If this is the case for you, then you might want to think about insulating your abode. You could start off by seeking help from Isotherm Roof Insulation. A lot of heat is lost through the roof, so this is a part of your house that’s worth insulating. You might also want to get thicker glazing for your windows because this will help to trap heat too. Even getting thicker curtains and putting draft excluders on your doors can help. Insulation will keep your home cooler during summer and warmer during winter. It’ll also save you a fortune on energy fees, and it’ll benefit the environment. The benefits are nearly endless.

Think about your source of energy.

We’ve talked about consuming less energy, and this is an important part of living sustainably. Protecting the environment is all about being more conservative and reducing our carbon footprints. However, the fact remains that most households are on the grid, and that power usually comes from power plants which use fossil fuels. If you really want to adopt sustainable practices in your life, then you should think about your source of energy. If your home doesn’t use renewable energy, then you might want to consider getting solar panels.

Whilst solar energy might seem like a hefty investment, it’s a smart long-term decision. Not only will you save yourself money on energy bills in the long run but you could also earn some money. If you sell unused energy generated by your solar panels back to the grid, then you could earn a sizeable profit on a regular basis. You’ll end up cutting your electricity fees over time, and you’ll be helping the planet by using a source of energy that doesn’t produce damaging greenhouse gases. If you want to cut your fees and do something for the future of the planet, then this might be a very smart investment to make.

Start landscaping your garden.

If your garden is nothing but a well-mowed patch of grass, then you’re squandering a very valuable part of your property. If you start landscaping your garden, you could do a lot for the planet and your back pocket. For starters, you should create a compost pile. Adding vegetable scraps and coffee grounds to this pile will help to create a nice little area of land which could eventually be turned into a vegetable garden. This is a very sustainable way to live in the long run. When you start growing your own fruit and vegetables, you no longer have to rely on store-bought greens.

This will save you money, obviously, but it also has huge benefits for the environment. The food industry has a detrimental effect on the planet, much like every other global industry. Not only does it contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions but it also contributes to the inordinate amount of plastic in landfills and the oceans. Fruit and vegetables don’t need to be wrapped up in plastic. If you want to forego that annoying aspect of the food industry, then growing your own food is a great option.

Reduce.

This final point serves as a good summary of everything said in this article. Millions of people across the world are trying to live sustainably. Some governments are making greater strides than others. Initiatives such as recycling have been in place for years. Plenty of construction firms have adopted sustainability practices when creating new buildings. Even supermarkets have started charging money for the use of their plastic bags. It seems as if everyone understands the mission at hand, but why isn’t it enough? Well, plenty of sustainable measures miss the problem. We’re damaging the planet because we’re consuming too much. So, the best way to live more sustainably is to reduce your consumption.

We’ve talked about this with regards to your energy usage at home, but you can go much further than that. Referring back to plastic usage, you might want to start looking for bathroom products that don’t come packaged in plastic; Lush is an example of a brand that sells plenty of cosmetic and hygienic products without packaging. When you shop for goods, you just need to think about how they’re sourced. That’s the key to doing your part for the environment. It goes without saying that reducing your consumption will reduce your expenses too. Also, maintaining your home well could reduce wastefulness; fix leaky pipes so water isn’t wasted, for example. Sustainable and cheap living comes down to consuming minimally.