When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint and making your home more sustainable, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to start or what things will have a meaningful impact. The idea of achieving a Net Zero home may seem daunting, but it's important to remember that every small step counts. Whether you're a seasoned eco-warrior or newly starting your journey towards a greener future, you'veprobably heard the usual recommendations for reducing your carbon footprint:
Switch to LED bulbs to use up to 75% less electricity.
Install weatherstripping around windows, doors, outlets, and vents to keep air from leaving your home.
Upgrade the insulation in your home.
Install energy-efficient appliances to reduce energy waste.
These are great actions to work towards and will have a meaningful impact on your carbon footprint. Maybe you’re planning to do these things one day but want to get started on making smaller changes now. The great news is there are plenty of simple and practical things you can do right now to make a difference.
At Homes to Zero, we believe in empowering homeowners with the resources and knowledge to make practical changes and actionable steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle. So, we've compiled a list of 5 easy – and cost-free things - you can do today to lower your carbon footprint and start your journey to Net Zero:
Use your oven wisely. Most people might not realize there are ways to reduce the energy your traditional oven produces. Preheating the oven is only necessary when baking; it's not essential when cooking roasts or casseroles. When appropriate, use the broiler. It saves energy and requires no preheating. When baking in glass or ceramic dishes, try lowering the heat by 14°C (25°F) because these materials transfer heat better than some metals.
When water reaches boiling point, it doesn't get any hotter. When cooking, you can turn down the burner and still maintain a boil while saving some energy at the same time. It's also important to always use the right size pot, pan or element for the job and cook with the lid on. This can significantly decrease cooking time and stop energy waste.
Use your dishwasher’s ECO option. If your dishwasher has the option, choose air drying rather than heat drying. If not, stop the machine before the drying cycle starts and open the door to let the dishes air dry.
Use your washing machine and dryer’s ECO option too. Better yet - skip the dryer all together! Clothes hung outside on a hot summer day can dry in as little as 20 minutes!
When it comes to entertainment, avoid streaming content through your game console. Streaming movies or videos on a console uses much more energy than streaming through the tv, and reducing this can help reduce your energy usage.
By taking these small steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle, you're reducing your carbon footprint, saving money on your energy bills, and improving your home's overall efficiency. When tackling your carbon footprint, focus on behaviour change first and how you can change your daily actions to be more sustainable. Why not add a meter to your home to start tracking the impact your behavioural changes make? Take it a step further and challenge your friends, who can reduce their personal carbon footprint the most? Once your sustainable habits are second nature, then you can start implementing more considerable changes, such as replacing old appliances with better energy-efficient versions and installing energy-efficient lighting and low-flow fixtures.
Make Positive Change
We hope these practical tips have given you a starting point for your journey towards Net Zero and that you feel empowered to make positive changes in your daily life. Remember, even small actions can have a significant impact on the planet, and by working together, we can create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. We'd love to know your favourite sustainable practices; do you only wash laundry in cold water and hang dry your clothes to minimize the use of your dryer? Or maybe you batch cook over the weekend to save time and stop your ovenworking longer than needed. Let us know in the comments below!
If you want a clearer picture of your home's current state on its journey to Net Zero and how to make changes personalized to you, take our quick questionnaire and get a Free Climate Score. Homes to Zero are here to help you and your home on the journey to Net Zero.