Many of us decided that 2022 was the year to make more efforts to protect the environment. You can forgive yourself if you haven’t gotten into the swing of things. It’s difficult to know where to begin.
There are many ways that you and your family can make your home more eco-friendly, no matter how small or large.
These grand gestures don’t mean you can’t do anything to help the environment. We have compiled a list with easy steps that you can take right from your home to reduce your carbon footprint.
How to help the environment protect in 2022
Change your kettle
We are a nation that loves tea, so we use a lot to boil the kettle. According to TheEnergy Saving TrustIf we boil only as much water as we need (rather that boiling and reboiling), we could save enough energy for seven months to power all of the UK’s streetlights.
What is the best way to heat water? Professor Peter Main, former head at King’s College London’s Physics Department, says the hob is the best way to heat water. He explains that boiling a kettle of water takes the same amount of energy no matter how it is done.
Although an electric kettle may be slightly more efficient at reducing heat loss that a kettle on a gas stove, there is a far greater effect. The majority of electricity generated in the UK is produced by burning gas. However, this process is only about 60% efficient. It is generally more efficient to heat the water in your kitchen than to use an electric kettle to burn the gas.
Eco kettles are the best option if you have to use a kettle. They allow you to choose how many cups you need to boil. Descale your kettle regularly. Heater elements can build up and cause the kettle to take longer to boil.
You can also find other sources of electricity
We love our dogs’ waste, but not their trash. It is not only a problem for our streets, but also the bags that responsible owners use in clearing it up contribute to our growing plastic problem. Even green bags aren’t biodegradable if they end-up in landfills, as most of them are.
Brian Harper, a resident of the Malvern Hills was fed up with seeing trash ruining his neighborhood. An anaerobic digester, which converts dog waste to methane, was built by Harper a few years back. It then fuels a street lamp. Ten bags of dog poo can power enough light for two hours. He says that people have come from all over to see it, including a busload of Dudley pensioners.
Harper claims that it has solved the problem of dog poo and reduced the need to use plastic bags (there is a free paper bag available on the site) and also reduced the need to collect waste in a diesel-powered truck.
Become a Flexitarian
While scientists have warned for a while about the climate impact of a high-meat lifestyle, it is not the only solution. A 2019 study showed that a flexitarian diet with one serving of meat per day is better than one that has lots of cheese and milk.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins UniversityThe US studied the environmental impact of 140 major diets and found that a two-thirds vegan diet (one that included a lot of fruits, vegetables, and pulses) had a lower carbon footprint that a high-fat vegetarian diet. This is because cheese and other dairy products are more carbon intensive than certain meats.
Use refillable containers
Single-use plastic is a growing problem. 700,000 plastic containers are littered every single day in the UK. One commercial solution is to sell water cans and cartons. These aren’t better for the environment.
All materials have environmental effects that could lead to different environmental burdens, Libby Peake (head of resource policy at the independent think tank Green Alliance), says.
She cites research that shows that half of UK’s plastic water bottles could be replaced with aluminium cans. This would create enough toxic waste to fill the Royal Albert Hall six times per year. A switch to cartons could result in almost 9,000 bin lorries being filled with waste that cannot be recycled at this level every year. Refillable containers are the only sustainable option.
Invest in renewable energy
It might be time to look into renewable energy resources like solar, wind, and hydro energy.
Harry Roberts, managingdirector of Cop26, has been appointed. My Favourite Cottages, provided guidance on how to make homes more sustainably.
He suggested that solar panels could reduce your home’s carbon footprint up to 88% in just one-year. Solar panels can be used for up to 50 year and do not require frequent replacement. Solar panels can also help reduce your electricity bills, which can be as low as 120-310 per year according to the Energy Savings Trust.
Smart alternatives like LED lightbulbs can last 25 times longer than traditional bulbs and are 80% more efficient. They can convert 95% of energy into light, compared with 5% for fluorescent lamps. Swapping will reduce power consumption and eliminate the need for specialist disposal.
Also, it is important to ensure that all appliances have an A++ rating. These ratings are more cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Water conservation
We are often told to turn off water taps when brushing our teeth. This will prevent water waste. How serious should we take this advice?
On average, people use 142 litres per day of water. This, combined with the growing pressure on natural resources, could lead to water shortages in the UK by 2050.
To reduce wastage, households can install water efficient shower heads, low-flow faucets, and even dual flush toilets (which use four to six litres instead of standard 13 litres).
You can also choose modern energy- and water-efficient appliances to reduce water consumption and lower your water bills.
Start small
The smallest changes are the most important to make a big impact.
Start by switching to eco friendly soaps, washing up fluids and detergents.
It is important to recycle properly. Using reusable shopping bags, investing in thick curtains and furnishings, and reducing your heating bill can all make a difference. This will not only help reduce your heating bill, but it will also add more cosiness and style to the home.
This article is regularly updated with the most current advice.
