5 ways to green your home

Grace Hull talks us through simple things we can do to live more sustainably at home.

Becoming greener will not only help the planet but can also save you money. It’s a win – win.

Here are 5 easy things you can do in your home to make it more eco-friendly.

Watch your water

Reducing water use is a huge part of becoming greener. Installing a low-flow shower head could save 160,000 litres for a family of four and is easy to install yourself. Taking the time to fix any leaks, turning the tap off while brushing your teeth or shaving, and taking the ‘5 minute shower’ challenge are all easy ways to save water.

Go natural

Make the switch to natural cleaning products, which use plant and mineral derived ingredients. Using harmful chemicals in the house is really bad for the environment (as well as our health), as they are washed away into the water supply, affecting aquatic life, and the water takes more purification before it can be used again. Luckily, there is an extensive range of eco-friendly household products available in supermarkets which do the job just as well as the popular brands. You can even have a go at making them yourself from common household products like vinegar, citrus peels and baking soda.

Get the most out of your waste services

Are you getting the most out of your waste collection? Check with your local council to see what services are available in your borough. You may be eligible for a food waste or garden waste collection. Many councils turn this organic waste into compost to use on their borough’s green spaces, which is a great way to stop unnecessary waste from going to landfill.

Switch the bulb

Although they have been around for a long time, it has taken a while for more people to come around to the idea of using energy efficient light bulbs. These are very widely available, and a great investment. Not only do they use less energy, but they last longer and need replacing less frequently – money saved!

Get bamboozled

In North America alone, it is estimated over one billion plastic toothbrushes end up in landfill every year. Making the switch to a bamboo toothbrush is an effective way to reduce plastic pollution. Bamboo is a wonderfully sustainable material – growing quickly and needing minimal water or fertilisers – and can be composted at the end of its life. There are some great brands on the market offering affordable brushes that do the job excellently.

This list is by no means exhaustive but is a great place to start.

Happy greening!

Grace Hull is founder and director of Earth For All, a London-based social enterprise created to make sustainable living accessible to all through education, consultancy and public speaking. www.earthforall.org.uk