Switch to an electricity supplier that uses 100% renewable energy
A number of electricity providers now supply 100% green energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind – use Bonkers.ie to compare prices and plans, they specify which providers use renewable energy.
Turn off lights, switches and power cords when not in use. Plug out any electrical items when they’re finished charging.
Don’t waste any energy even when you switch to a renewable supplier!
Hang a ‘No junk mail’ sign at your door and switch to paperless billing
Two simple actions which will save a pile of (often unnecessary!) leaflets and notices from the recycling bin.
Shop local and zero waste
Shopping local means your food has less miles to travel (therefore creating less CO2 emissions) and you’re also supporting local food producers. Shopping zero waste means buying loose food items, without unnecessary packaging these products use fewer resources (energy, raw materials etc) and create less waste. See our blog post here on where to shop zero waste in Cork.
Wash your clothing items on a short, low temperature cycle and air dry them
Unless you have really dirty, stained clothes there is no need to use energy heating litres of water and similarly no need to use more energy putting on the dryer when your wash will naturally dry on a clothes horse or washing line. And remember to only put on a wash when you have a full load to make the most of resources used!
Switch to LED bulbs
LED light bulbs use up to 85% less electricity than traditional light bulbs and 95% of that energy is converted to light with only 5% wasted as heat. This will save you money on your electricity bill plus the fact that LED bulbs last about 10 times longer than standard bulbs means they won’t need to be replaced often.
Shop secondhand for kitchenware/furniture/household items
Charity shops, vintage stores and car boot sales all have a great selection of used items for the house. As well as reducing the cost of decorating your place and preventing perfectly good items from going to landfill, this is a great way to create a unique design for your home.
But you don’t even have to leave your couch to source some pre-loved goods for your home – try Gaff Interiors for furniture and Adverts.ie for furniture and household items.
By Aisling Kett
