When it comes to sustainable living, there are so many things you can do to help the planet. As you may have recently heard climate change is increasing at an alarming rate, so it is imperative we do our bit to improve the planet and reduce the rate of which the climate is warming.
A beginners guide to sustainable living
Creating change within your life should begin with small steps; otherwise, you may be less likely to continue with it. You may not think your small changes make an impact, but if everyone started to adjust their lifestyles to become more sustainable, we could see a dramatic change in the rate of climate change.
Garden
If you enjoy your garden and love making it look gorgeous then why not think about planting a few extra plants to help the environment. We suggest planting some vegetables and fruit in your garden, by doing so, it is also a great way to get the family involved. Even if you do not have a garden, you can still create a smaller vegetable patch in your home or office space with the use of plant pots. Alternatively, you could also look at purchasing a Click and Grow - Smart Garden, this unique plant pot allows you to grow plants within your home with ease, it provides 16 hours of energy efficient light to ensure your plants grow tall and strong.
There are a number of benefits to why you should try and create a vegetable patch within your home. The first being the reduction in single-use plastic, an epidemic that is now being addressed is the use of single-use plastic and how much is consumed without people even realising. If you have not noticed already, you may be surprised to realise the majority of your fruit and vegetable produce is either bagged or cased in plastic, with a garden you eliminate this. Additionally, your garden also helps contribute to the environment. As there are vast amounts of methane gases and CO2 in the earth atmosphere plants breathe it in and replace it with oxygen.
Transport
How many journeys do you take in your vehicle per day? We are guessing it is a fair few, and there are possibly a couple you do not necessarily need your car for. In most large towns and cities there are a number of transport links which allow you to get around and a fairly good price. Alternatively, you could also look at using your bicycle or consider walking. If you have the time to do so, then it is also a great way to keep active.
If you are an avid shopper who likes to attend the shopping centre on a regular basis, then you may want to consider taking the bus. You could also think about collating a list of things you would like or want, then decide to go to the shopping centre once a month. A great benefit of doing this, is you will often find some of the things you put on your list are items you may no longer want as you have put more thought into them. It helps prevent the need for impulse purchases.
Clothing
Nowadays throwaway fashion is extremely prevalent and is something we all do without even thinking about the damage we are causing to the planet. The days of hand me downs are long gone, but we believe you should consider bringing them back. As clothing items become cheaper due to the likes of some the high street stores now readily available to the masses, it means we are more likely to wear an item a couple of times before throwing it away.
To get out of this habit, you are better off spending a little more money on a clothing item and having it in your wardrobe for years. If you are looking for a new coat or pair of shoes rather then going with precisely what is in fashion why not consider an item that you know is timeless and will last you in the long run. According to The Guardian, in 2016, 62 countries sold around $24.5 billion worth of trousers, t-shirts, jackets and dresses. Which if you really think about it, is a considerable amount of money and not to mention the number of products that must have been made and sold.
Car boot sales are a great way for you to make a little money and get rid of unwanted items, if you do not have anyone at home that would like your clothing items why not take them down to your local car boot sale. If you would like to find your local car boot sale location we recommend taking a look at Car Boot Junction. Alternatively, there are a number of cities now taking part in rail sales, which allows you to place all of your unwanted items out for people to shop.
Electrical items
Electrical items consume a vast amount of energy that if switched off could save your home a considerable amount of money. There are a range of habits we pick up in the home which we do not think about on a daily basis, however, things such as leaving the lights on can mean electricity plans for homes can increase without you even realising.
You should also look at things such as your phone chargers as they can also consume a significant amount of energy in your home. Make sure that when they are not in use you turn it off at the socket, this also goes for many other household devices.
Becoming more sustainable
It has now become more important than ever that we are more conscious of what we do in our day to day lives and how much we consume. You do not have to make drastic changes in your home to become more sustainable; a few small changes can make all the difference. If you have your sustainable living down to a tea, why not try to get family and friends involved.
If you do have any other sustainable living tips, please feel free to share this with us over on our social media channels as we would love to help others make the change!