5 simple ways to make your home eco-friendly

One of the hottest topics of conversation these days in my house is how we can reduce our carbon footprint.

Whether global warming is a serious imminent worry, or whether it’s been completely blown out of proportion by the media; it’s definitely made me more aware of how I treat the environment.

After much discussion, my husband and I came up with a list of five simple things we could do to make our home more eco-friendly.

We’re not super rich so we needed idea’s that wouldn’t cost a fortune. Here’s what we came up with:

1. 1.      Energy efficient light bulbs: Ok, so this isn’t exactly a new idea. When experts first started warning us about our carbon footprint, they spent a lot of time trying to convince homes everywhere to switch to energy saving light bulbs. We got on the bandwagon and switched our living room bulb to a more energy efficient bulb. Now we’ve switched all of the bulbs in our home and we’re already starting to see some cost-saving benefits.

1. 2.      Secondary double glazing: If you want to make a big change without paying a big price, secondary double glazing for sash windows is definitely worth thinking about. Installing secondary double glazing is much cheaper than having your windows replaced. It can also be reversed if needed.

1. 3.      Stop using chemical products: This is a very simple tip that will also save you money. Chemical cleaners can have a really negative effect on the environment, so why not switch to natural cleaners or make your own? Vinegar and bicarbonate soda are two natural strong cleaning ingredients you can use.

1. 4.      Switch to energy saving appliances: I’d had the same appliances in my home for the past 15 years. It was hard for me letting go of my trusty old fridge, but the cost saving benefits, as well as helping to reduce my carbon footprint made the decision a little easier!

1. 5.      Save paper: I was amazed by how much paper we get through in our house. The first thing I did was take myself off the junk mail list. I also switched to buying 100% recycled paper. A simple yet very effective tip for becoming greener.