More and more people are becoming conscious of the impact their daily lives are having on the world, and not only is this good for the environment but it is also a great way to save money. By taking small steps in your daily routine you can reduce your carbon footprint whilst having money left to treat yourself more regularly. Here are a few changes that you can easily make to ensure you are doing your best to preserve the planet.
Homes use a lot of energy, according to DEFRA only the travel sector uses more, so when you are in your home you should try to save as much energy as possible. Consider getting an energy monitors, which can be picked up for as little as £20 or in some cases supplied for free by your energy supplier. Whilst these will not save you money on their own, they help you to monitor when and where you waste the most energy so that you know where to make changes.
Another way of ensuring your house is greener is to use more green energy, for example, by installing solar panels to supplement your electricity use. Also, check your energy supplier and consider moving to one which uses more renewable energy sources. Sometimes these can charge you slightly more but it will give you greater peace of mind.
In the Home
When making a cup of tea make sure that you don’t automatically fill the kettle to the brim each time and only boil the amount of water you need as it uses a significant amount of energy. Be militant with turning lights off when no one is in the room and make sure energy saving bulbs are installed throughout the house. Whilst the initial expense can be greater, an energy saving bulb will save a far greater amount on energy bills over its lifetime.
Transport uses more energy than anything else, which is not surprising when you consider how much you use it. Instead of getting in the car to do the short journeys to school or to the shops try to walk or use a bike. This may mean you have to get up earlier or be more organised but it’s worth it for the environment and for your wallet. When you’re doing long journeys try to take the train and ask someone to pick you up at the other end. There are lots of railcards and offers available to help you to save money. Sometimes driving is unavoidable, however, so when you’re driving on the motorway stick to the 70 mph limit, as it can save 4p a mile compared to when you wander up to 80 and above.
There are lots of small steps you can take to lead a greener lifestyle. They may not always be the easiest or most convenient but you will earn it all back with the sense of well being that you are preserving the planet for generations to come. Not only that, but you will also feel the benefit in the money you save each month.