How Environmentally Friendly is Your Home?

As the topic of climate change and eco-friendliness is being discussed more than ever, it’s hard to believe many of us continue to be wasteful in our own homes.

The average household wastes more than you may think. In 2018, recycling rates have fallen for 14 million homes and we are producing 23.6m tonnes of waste. The average amount of waste produced per person currently stands at around 411kg. However, even if you feel like you are doing the best you can to help the environment, chances are there is more that you can do to improve your home’s eco-friendliness.

Plant a tree

This is more than likely something you’ve never thought about doing, let alone considered the benefits it could bring to your home. Planting a ‘shade tree’ is a useful trick for cutting down your utility expenses. Being large and leafy, a tree can help to shade your home from any harsh sun and therefore reduce how hot your house can get.

Planting a tree is of course also benefiting to the ecosystem as a whole and can help to boost the value of your property when looking to sell.

Be a light saver

You may already know by now that LED lights are better for the environment than incandescent bulbs. They can lower your electricity bill and last for more than 10 years. So if you haven’t already you should consider making the switch.

For a modern home, your traditional LED bulb is perfect as it will give off a cool, blue light. If you’re looking for a cosier light, LED bulbs that emit a yellow tinge allow you to choose between a soft white or a warm white colour, depending on your mood.

Boost your insulation

Insulation ensures less energy escapes when heating your home, so look into adding loft insulation or paying out for cavity wall insulation to give your home a boost. Not only does this tip protect the environment as it reduces your need to burn fuel and create emissions, it also saves you money on your energy bills.

Clear your air

An air purifier is a great way of improving the quality of air within your home, but the right houseplants can also have a huge effect on the air around you. Now you don’t have to turn your home into a jungle, but a couple dotted around will make all the difference.

Rethink your furniture

When purchasing wooden items of furniture, look for reclaimed wood as an eco-friendly option. By this, we mean, wood that’s been reused and recycled from previous construction. Most importantly you should be buying furniture that is well made and durable so that it lasts longer.

If you’re looking to create a new and eco-friendlier look for your home, start with your bed and browse Divan Beds Centre’s collection. Not only are these designs made to last but they’re also excellent at doubling up as storage. You can finally get rid of that rickety old bed frame for something a lot sturdier.

Recycle recycle recycle

As noted, less and less people are now recycling with many mixing easily recyclable materials such as paper and plastic with the rest of their rubbish. We understand recycling isn’t as easy as it seems, but it’s doable. A good way to start recycling is to have separate bins for recyclables and non-recyclables, with a bullet point list on each to remind you. Recycling will definitely make you more energy efficient, it cuts back on global warming and in the long run could avoid our landfills overflowing.