RE-USE . RE-STYLE . RE-DISCOVER part one

Image created by me

Want to save the planet and have a fabulous looking home at the same time? Three words for you... re-use, re-style and re-discover. It is becoming increasingly important in this day and age to consider the environmental impact we have and use in our daily lives. Looking after our plan it much easier than you would think. If everyone made a small difference in their homes there would be a great impact on our environment. At the risk of being labeled a 'treehugger' i'll begin with the energy tips that could help your home, the world and your wallet (part one). Then i'll get to the quirky Eco-friendly design ideas that could make reading and implementing these tips less of a chore... (part two).

Images by me (of energy in my house)

Electricity:

• Switch of the lights in a room if it's not in use and save £££ when the electric bill comes along
• Switch to low energy bulbs because they use only a quarter of the electricity and last up to 10 times longer
• Switch off all electrical appliances at the plug instead of leaving them on standby (6% of the electricity bill comes courtesy of your standby appliances)
• Let hot food cool before you put in the fridge and position the fridge/freezer as far from the cooker/heater as possible to improve efficiency

Heat:

• Reduce heating by 1 degree and by 1 hour less everyday.
• Install double glazed windows
• Make use of rugs around the house and draw the curtains closed at night to save heat
• Use the right sized pans for the food and hobs, also make use of lids to keep the heat in

Water:

• Fix leaky taps and try not to leave taps running as you wash dishes (I'm usually guilty of this) 
• Wash a full load of laundry only or use the economy settings if available. Also try washing dishes manually rather than using a dishwasher
• Use a low-flow shower head and save gallons of water and £££

Miscellaneous:

• Declutter your home by donating to charity or gifting unwanted/unnecessary objects (someone's trash, another man's treasure etc.)
• Re-use tapaware, bottles and jars for leftovers, marinades, sauces etc
• Buy potted plants instead of cut flowers. They last longer and improve the quality of air indoors

.....end of part one.....

xx christina xx