Sustainable living is on the rise due to the growing importance of environmental impact and homeowners desire to make a difference. Creating a sustainable home doesn’t require big and expensive improvements, but everyday choices and small changes can collectively make a big difference. This guide will cover easily implementable improvements that can significantly improve the sustainability of your property.
The Benefits of a Sustainable Home?
Creating a sustainable home offers numerous benefits including, environmental, economic and personal well-being.
One of the main benefits of eco-friendly improvements is a reduction in carbon foodprint, this can be achieved by minimising energy usage and resources. In addition, resource conservation is vital for reducing strain on natural resources, this can be done by producing minimal waste and investing in sustainably produced products.
Reduced energy consumption can lead to lower energy bills and significant cost saving benefits over time. In addition, investing in sustainable furniture pieces can also lead to cost savings in the long-term, due to higher quality products and added durability.
Key Areas for Sustainable Home Choices
Sustainable Furniture
Incorporating sustainable furniture throughout your interior is a key step in creating a sustainable home. Choose furniture that is made from recycled, reclaimed or sustainably sourced materials, for instance Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood.
Furthermore, investing in quality pieces of furniture is essential in ensuring that your furniture pieces will last the test of time. When furniture pieces offer more longevity it reduces the need for frequent replacements, which goes a long way in minimising waste and conserving resources. This also includes opting for more traditional styles of furniture, rather than trendy pieces that will go out of fashion quickly.
In addition, it is equally as important to consider how your furniture design impacts your well-being over time. This is especially the case if you have a home office, as you will be using your office furniture for long periods of time every day. Investing in long-lasting ergonomic office furniture will go a long way in improving your physical health by offering unmatched support for long periods of sitting.
Exploring pre-loved and second-hand items is a great way to invest in these high-quality furniture pieces on a budget. Websites like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace or local charity shops, are great ways to shop for second hand pieces.
Illuminating Your Home Responsibly
Effectively illuminating your home is key for creating an inviting atmosphere, improving functionality and enhancing the visual appearance of space within your interior. However, it is important to illuminate your home responsibly to minimise environmental impact.
Focus on using LED lightbulbs and smart lighting systems throughout your home to maximise energy efficiency and reduce environmental footprint. Switching from traditional incandescent bulbs to LED lightbulbs is a simple change that not only offers a sustainable alternative but is more cost effective and safer. Incandescent bulbs generate a huge amount of heat, which can pose a fire risk within your home.
Furthermore, it is equally as beneficial to maximise the use of natural light wherever possible, to reduce the reliance on artificial lighting. Mirrors are an easy and affordable way to reflect natural light throughout your home. Simply placing a mirror opposite a large window in your home, not only will this reflect an abundance of light, but it will create the illusion of more space within a room.
Waste Management
To create a sustainable home, it is important to follow the core principles of waste reduction; reduce, reuse and recycle. This can be achieved by incorporating recycling bins in your home, undertaking composting processes and minimising packaging use on a daily basis.
Incorporate accessible and clearly labelled recycling bins within your home to make waste separation easier for different materials. Some local councils recycle certain materials separately, like glass and cardboard, so individual bins are key for efficient waste management. Furthermore, compost bins can be great practice for reusing food waste to enrich and add nutrients to your soil, as well as helping to maintain a spotless kitchen whilst cooking.
It’s important to form a habit of conscious shopping in order to reduce packaging waste within your home. Choosing products with minimal packaging or recycled materials and using reusable shopping bags, can significantly reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Practical Steps to Get Started
Often the most challenging part of creating an eco-friendly home is getting started. Make sure that you start small to avoid feeling overwhelmed and focus on improving just one or two areas of your home to begin.
It can be helpful to do your research first by looking into brands and products that have strong sustainable credentials. In addition, see what’s going on in your local community, there are typically local recycling initiatives that you can get involved in. Similarly, repair cafes offer a space in the local community to take broken items, so that volunteers can fix them without having to throw them away.
The Broader Impact
It is so important for every individual to make sustainable choices within their home, no matter how big or small they are. Individual choices contribute to a larger and more impactful movement towards a sustainable future and truly have a massive impact on the planet.
For instance, conscious consumerism is a movement that more individuals need to be aware of and get involved in. This involves considering how your purchases affect the wider ecosystem, including the social, environmental and ethical impacts.
This guide illustrates how achievable and beneficial sustainable living can be in your home. What may seem like minor changes can have a huge impact on the wider environment and world around us. It is important as individuals that we all embark on a journey towards more sustainable living, in order to ensure the well-being of both present and future generations.
