Do you want to make your home a more sustainable, eco-friendly space?
Here are some easy, actionable ideas that you can implement to make sustainability part of your everyday life.
Grow your own herbs
Whether you’re a regular cook or a lover of hosting dinner parties, having access to fresh produce makes all the difference. Growing your own herbs is also the perfect way to add some greenery into your space, regardless of the type of home you live in.
If you’re based in an apartment, finding a windowsill, or using a sunny spot on a balcony is all you need to get started. The key here is using high-quality soil, sourcing your herbs from a trusted nursery, and understanding the sunlight and water requirements of your plants.
And you might just be surprised by the money you save from growing your own herbs versus buying them at the supermarket.
Reduce your electricity consumption
When it comes to reducing the amount of electricity your home consumes, there are a few simple ways to make substantial changes. One great place to start is swapping out your use of the dryer for a clothes rack and placing your clothes in a sunny spot. By doing your washing in the morning before you head to work, you can leave your clothes in a spot which receives the most sunlight so they can dry naturally.
Another way to reduce electricity usage is by considering more sustainable heating and cooling options. During seasonal change and especially throughout winter and summer when temperatures are at their extremes, try using fans and heaters rather than air conditioning. A hot water bottle also goes a long way for those cooler nights and this simple switch can save you a whole lot on your electricity bills.
Reduce your waste
Food waste is a continual and growing problem in Australia. The Australian Government released statistics this year revealing we waste “around 7.6 million tonnes of food across the supply and consumption chain – this wastage equals about 312kg per person, equivalent to around one in five bags of groceries or $2,000 to $2,500 per household per year”. Not to mention, food waste costs the economy around $36.6 billion each year. So how can you help to change this worrying reality?
Starting a compost is a simple and easy way to repurpose your food scraps and turn them into liquid gold for your garden. Thanks to the increasing popularity for composting in urban environment, it’s never been easier to find the right composting option for your home. Bokashi’s Indoor Composting Bin, EPICA’s Stainless Steel Compost Bin and RED FACTOR’s Compost Bin are some popular, affordable and effective choices.
Another way to reduce your food waste is to change the way you shop. Rather than bulk buying on a weekly basis and stocking up, it can be a better and more sustainable idea to buy the groceries you need for the next day or two. That way, you’re not left with a whole lot of produce which has gone off such as fruits, breads, and vegetables.
Having Tupperware on hand is also an effortless way to save leftovers for another meal. Whether it’s for school lunches or dinner the next evening, you can always freeze your leftovers.
Food for thought
These simple steps are easy, actionable ways which you can implement into your home for purposes of sustainability. While it can seem like an overwhelming challenge at times, making positive changes at home can also make their way into other areas of your life such as at work or in social settings which can have a positive flow on effect. Most importantly, never underestimate the power of an individual to make collective change for good. It all counts!
This article is provided for general information purposes only. Its content is current at the date of publication. It is not legal advice and is not tailored to meet your individual needs. You should obtain specialist advice based on your specific circumstances before taking any action concerning the matters discussed in this article.
