Greta Thunberg talks about what needs to be done to save the planet; it can be daunting for some people. For example, installing solar panels might not be financially feasible for some, and cycling to work every day instead of driving can be difficult for working parents. There are many reasons why people don't know where to start living an eco-friendly lifestyle.
We decided to make it easier for you. Our guide has 12 simple, effective and effortless steps to make your home and lifestyle eco-friendly. The best thing: One project per month will set you up for sustainable success and save you money in the long term. Let's get started!
November
Time to sow some wildflower seeds for bees and butterflies. 97% of native British Wildflower habitat has been lost since WW2. For that reason, wildflowers in your garden or balcony are perfect for pollinators. The best is: You need zero gardening knowledge. They just grow everywhere. I have personally used Beebombs which you can purchase here.
December
We know it’s winter, and we all like a toasty living room. How about layering up with one layer more and dialling down the heating by only 1 degree? It reduces carbon pollution by up to 340kg. In addition, you can make a fantastic saving of an estimated £80 per year. Why not put this towards Christmas presents?
January
Did you know you can cut your water usage with a bit of investment into a water saving shower head? Average older shower heads use up to 15-20 litres per minute, whilst some newer ones use around 10-12 litres per minute. So with an average shower time per person of 8 minutes, you can save 35,000 litres of water per year. So if you choose a good one, this can give you a saving of £70-£90 per year whilst also saving the freshwater of this earth. A perfect start to sustainable living.
February
Love a clean home without all the toxins? Time to switch to eco-friendly cleaning products. Traditional cleaning products contain toxins and harmful chemicals that pollute waterways and harm aquatic life. Not to mention the person cleaning is breathing in all toxins. Many studies have shown that eco-friendly products have the same effect without all the nasties. So switch it up in February!
March
After the eco-friendly spring clean in February, it’s time to enjoy and breathe in the fresh air. For that, we recommend replacing your home air filter. As a result, your HVAC system will operate more efficiently and last longer, leading to energy and cost savings.
April
How lucky are we living in a time of intelligent power strips? They will assess your electricity usage and automatically disable things not required. This is a real money saver in the present time of rising electricity and gas prices.
May
The weather is getting hotter, and it’s time to stay hydrated. It’s also time to ditch your plastic water bottles and buy a reusable water bottle. If you purchase an insulated one, it will keep your water nicely cool and fresh. How about throwing in some fruit pieces for a fruitier taste? That is cool and will make you an eco-friendly champion.
June
June is “opt-out-of-junk- mail- month”. The first line of defence is to put a sign on your door or letterbox. If you live in the UK, you can contact Royal Mail to opt out of leaflets (optout@royalmail.com). You can also register with the “My choice” scheme from the Direct Marketing Association, and they will help reduce the amount of junk mail you get (yourchoice@dma.org.uk). Another tip is to take your details off the open register from the electoral office.
You can even call a number in the US and opt out of junk mail from the four big consumer credit reporting agencies (1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688)). Time to save the trees.
July
Time for more cleaning for an eco-friendly lifestyle. Vacuum the coils on the back of your refrigerator. Keeping them clean will make the cooling process more efficient, saving you money and protecting the environment.
August
Time to wrap your water heater into a jacket cylinder. A water heater insulator could reduce standby heat loss by up to 40% and reduce about 10% to 16% in water heating costs. The jacket will be paid off within a year of investment. Time to wrap it up for eco-friendly living.
September
It’s getting colder out there, and winter is coming. Time to stop drafts from windows and doors to keep your home warm. For a small budget, you can find lots of tips on how to make them yourself.
October
It's no secret that LED lights are much more efficient than traditional light bulbs. They use up to 70-85% less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs. According to one calculation and considering the higher upfront cost, replacing one light bulb can save £150 a year. A no-brainer!
If you liked our guide on living more sustainably and becoming a real eco-friendly lifestyle champion in one year, like and subscribe to our newsletter. This guide is a beginner's guide to start your sustainability journey. We hope you liked it and join us on our journey.