Do you want to reduce your environmental footprint and save money? Here are my tips for doing both at the same time without leaving home!
1. What’s your air conditioning doing? This is usually a big user of power and we’re used to having it set at 22°C or lower on a hot day. But, apparently, for every degree below 25 it increases your power consumption by 10%. Could you cope with your thermostat being at 25°C?
2. Review your energy and water consumption. Turn off power points when they’re not in use, fix leaking taps. Make sure you’re not paying for waste. If there is an option to switch to GreenPower accredited electricity, take a look at that too.
3. Reduce, reuse and recycle. This is an easy one – buy less, reuse what you’ve got – or give to someone else to reuse, recycle or repurpose things you no longer have a use for.
4. Grow things. Veggies and herbs to eat and flowers for the bees.
5. Review your kitchen and cooking habits. Do you throw away much food? Cook for a family of 6 when there are only 4 of you? Shop impulsively? Menu planning is a great way to reduce your grocery bill plus save you time by needing to go to the supermarket less often.
6. Walk or get public transport rather than drive. It’s so easy to just jump in the car to get wherever you’re going. But is that really the best way? Could you walk it and get some exercise while you’re at it. Could you get public transport and relax with a book or podcast rather than battle traffic?
7. Consume mindfully and intentionally. Think before you buy. Do you really need it? Are you buying a product that is sustainably sourced?
There are big advantages to shift from mindless living to mindful living – for the environment and our hip pocket.
Have you made a change recently that has had a good impact on you or the planet?
