Low-impact living is healthier for your family, the planet and – potentially - your bank balance
too. There are some obvious ways to make your home an eco-friendly space. You probably
already have solar panels and perhaps a water tank. You’ve switched to efficient LED light
bulbs and only buy 5 star rated appliances. So how do you make your home more
environmentally friendly? Here’s a checklist of 20 practical ways to transform your home into
a green haven.
Call in the experts. “Sustainability Consultant” is an actual job title these days. They can
do a professional energy audit on existing homes and advise on any improvements. If you’re
building or renovating, you can hire architects and engineers who specialise in building “no
power bills” homes.
Switch to an energy provider that allows you to offset your carbon emissions – there are
several choices on the market right now.
If your house already has good insulation, make sure your heating ducts are insulated to
avoid energy loss too.
Be water-wise. Install a low-flow (AAA rated) showerhead. Fix any leaks. If you run a tap
on high and it becomes too hot, turn down your water heater’s thermostat. Upgrade your old,
outdated toilet – you’ve literally been flushing a valuable resource down the drain.
Automate heating and cooling times with a smart programmable thermostat. This will also
make your home comfier for your family.
Go green; literally. Surround yourself with air-purifying plants. NASA’s clean air study
found plants that effectively remove volatile pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, and
trichloroethylene from the air include hard-to-kill snake plants and spider plants. Give aloe
vera a home on your sunny kitchen windowsill. No more toxic air fresheners required.
Research natural cleaning methods. It’s amazing what you can do with vinegar, lemon,
bicarb soda, a good scrub of sea salt and naturally-scented essential oils. Your life will
change once you discover what soap nuts are.
Start composting. If you’re designing or remodelling your kitchen, make sure there’s
enough space to store daily food scraps out of the way. Clear a dedicated spot in your
garden for compost – your veggie patch will thank you.
Give your appliances a check-up to ensure that they are running efficiently. Clean the
coils under your refrigerator. Position your fridge and freezer in a shady spot in the kitchen.
Try to line dry clothing, but if you must use a clothes dryer, keep the filter clear. Run your
dishwasher overnight to avoid peak times on the energy grid. Wash clothes in cold water.
Pledge to only buy vintage or recycled furniture and homewares wherever possible.
Embrace the thrill of the hunt for those perfect pre-loved pieces!
Stand-by power sucks up a lot of energy. Install power strips so that you can completely
turn off several items at once.
Save the trees. Switch to online bills and pop-up a “no junk mail” sign on your letterbox.
In the kitchen, use a pressure cooker to cut cooking time and gas or electricity use. Opt
for a toaster-oven when you’re only cooking a small meal. If you drink lots of bottled water,
invest in a soda stream to save on plastic waste. Ditch paper towels and synthetic sponges
for reusable rags made from old towels, clothes and linens. Café coffee addict? Make a
good coffee maker your new best friend to save on take away cups and travel miles (but no
pods, please).
When you need them, employ hyper-local tradies rather the ones who have to travel to
you.
Your windows are already double-glazed, aren’t they? Now opt for thick or black-out
curtains for better insulation.
Beat the heat with ceiling or standing fans instead of air conditioning.
Lay some beautiful rugs on any concrete, tile or wooden floors – this will surprisingly
impact your heating bills.
That lovely crackling fireplace doesn’t need wood. Logs can be made from recycled
sawdust, used coffee beans and even up-cycled soy waste these days!
Plant only native and drought-resistant greenery in your garden. Give up on a
water-sucking lawn (bonus: no more mowing).
Pets like dogs and cats are actually high-impact (mostly due to their diets). But for many
of us, it’s simply not a real home without one. It’s another good reason to “adopt, don’t shop”
- that way you’re not contributing to the production of more animals. And remember: keep
Fluffy indoors.
