We are watching the planet go through a climate crisis, but there are plenty of people denying that it still exists.
We know that it’s a task for world leaders to tackle with their investments and their policies, but the problem that we’re all having is that nothing is ever being done because it’s not usually in the best interest of anybody else. So it’s important therefore that you will have to consider that.
Your home is where you are most responsible. You might not be able to affect change where politicians are going after as much oil and gas as possible, and you may not be able to change how many people have their cars on the road versus public transport or shared transport.
But what you can do is make your home as sustainable as possible and do a small part for what you can do for the planet.
A construction glossary can help you with the people that will be able to assist you with this in terms of home renovation, but there are things that you can do in your everyday world to make sure that you are building your own power around the principles of climate justice.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at how you can make your home more sustainable and therefore give back the planet something even if the politicians won’t.
Use renewables to power your home.
There is every chance that the electricity that you are using in your home right now to keep it running is being burned from fossil fuels. That means every time you turn on your TV or you plug in your washing machine, you’re using coal or natural gas to do it, and the oil companies are all profiting.
You can stop supporting those businesses by calling your energy provider and asking them to supply your home with renewable energy sources.
Solar power is one where you could do this, but you could also do it with wind power.
Not only will you be reducing your greenhouse gasses but there’s a very good chance that your energy will go right down because the price of clean energy is continuing to plummet.
Another way to reduce your environmental impact and energy waste is to ensure your electrical system is in good condition. Regular maintenance and using high-quality parts can help. Whether it’s upgrading wiring or using a Neon indicator, be confident that the parts you use for your electrical circuit are high quality and fit for purpose.
Work with a contractor to improve insulation.
A lot of the air conditioning and heat that is produced in your home will leak out of the windows and the door frames. Improving your insulation will help to stop this.
If you insulate the windows and the door frames and add extra installation into the roof cavity of your home you’ll be able to improve how sustainable your home is.
Upgrade your stove.
Gas stoves use less energy than their electric counterparts, but they pollute homes with a lot of fumes that are toxic and therefore they pose a direct threat to your health. It’s a global health crisis to deal with indoor air pollution of that level, and it can contribute to a lot of premature deaths.
Switching over to an induction stove will help you ensure that the air that you are breathing personally is a lot cleaner.
Upgrade your boiler.
With the right contractor, you could have your entire water system changed out and upgraded. Did you know that there’s a plan for a ban on new gas boilers by 2025? These are a major source of greenhouse gasses and you could be contributing to that unknowingly.
Make sure that your appliances are energy efficient.
This will be an expensive transition, but it’s worth it in the long run, and you can do this gradually throughout your home. When you can afford it, swap your current appliances out for those that are known to be energy efficient.
You can reduce your Household energy use just by switching out your air conditioner, refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine.
Fight for zero waste.
Household waste is a very big problem. The packaging that your food and your equipment comes in and the amount of waste that you can go through in a week can see you using up to four trash bags. And that’s just for a small family. A
ll of that trash goes to incinerators and landfills, which is a problem for the planet. You can reduce the waste generated by making sure that you buy your food in bulk or don’t use plastics when you are buying.
Reuse and repurpose old containers and old bottles and compost where you can. A lot of your old food scraps can be composted to create a soil that is nutrient rich and perfect for your plants.