Reducing energy waste in homes can be a challenge for many. I personally am now much more aware and more passionate about making small sustainable changes to support our planet’s future.
I would say that over the last year or so, I have tried to make small changes to my daily habits which have slightly reduced my energy waste. Here are some small energy saving switches I have made.
The bathroom:
Showers use significantly less water and energy than baths. I rarely have baths now and I also try to reduce my overall shower time. I know this sounds obvious, but I make sure I always turn the tap off when brushing my teeth.
The kitchen:
I definitely feel that many people overuse kitchen devices, such as boiling the kettle with more water in than needed or more times than necessary. I for example, only boil the amount of water I need in a pan to make the process quicker and in the sink I wash my dishes in a bowl, rather than under running water. I wait and only wash full loads of clothing in the washing machine; even if this does mean waiting until I run out of underwear! I also try to select the most environmentally friendly wash setting. I have realised that the oven is one of the most energy heavy cooking appliances and therefore I often cook in a pan on the hob where possible. Similarly, batch cooking is a good way of reducing energy consumption throughout the week.
Throughout the house:
I now try to remember to switch off all devices when they aren’t in use, instead of leaving them on standby. I was also that child who left lights on around the house, much to my parent’s dissatisfaction! However, now I aware of the lights, ensuring I turn them off when the room is no longer in use. In my family home, instead of always putting on the heating, we will put on an extra layer first. I also always let my hair dry naturally rather than using a hair dryer and rarely use any heated stylers such as straighteners and curlers.
I believe that many people do not realise how many behaviours and habits they have which are detrimental to their energy use and how easy it is to build up a hefty amount of unnecessary energy waste. Energy may be seen as ‘invisible’, so I can image the amount of people that aren’t aware of the effects of their seemingly innocent actions.
At the beginning, I was actually surprised at how easy it was to make small changes in the home. These switches may seem like a lot when you see them written down together, but they felt effortless to do. I am definitely inspired to make lasting sustainable swaps to my lifestyle where possible. This in the long-term will not only benefit me and my family by saving money, but also benefit the planet.
What small changes do you want to make to your everyday life with regards to energy usage?
Rachel
rachelfoxweb.wordpress.com 