The words "eco home" may conjure up images of the kind of wooden and glass structure seen on Grand Designs, but living in a sustainable-friendly house needn't involve a million pound budget or the help of Kevin McCloud. While installing solar panels and overhauling your insulation are only options if you own your home (and you have a fair amount of spare cash in your back pocket), renting doesn’t mean you can’t make fundamental changes to reduce your environmental impact.
From changing to green energy to switching up your cleaning regime or investing in secondhand furniture, these are the steps you can take now to do your bit for the planet.
Switch your energy provider
Thought you couldn’t change your electric and gas in a rental property? Think again. Energy provider Bulb makes switching easy peasy. Not only do they deal with the changeover admin with your current provider, but they also pay any exit fees you incur. When it comes to planet-saving credentials, their offering is pretty impressive. Bulb customers get 100% renewable electricity and 10% green gas; on average this saves 1.3 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere annually. That’s the equivalent of planting approximately 655 trees. If you still have an awkward housemate you need to convince, you can be safe in the knowledge that the financial savings will persuade them. After all, Bulb is 20% cheaper than the six biggest energy plans.
Refresh yourself on recycling
Let’s face it, recycling is a total minefield. Even if you are already separating your waste into recyclable and non-recyclable, knowing what goes in what bin is beyond confusing. The RecycleNow website is a really useful source of information with advice on how to recycle most efficiently. Swot up on your recycling knowledge by watching this video or search their directory to see what’s best to do with specific packaging. If you’re in a rush, look out for the recycling symbols that you’ll start seeing on a growing number of items (check them out here).
Invest in refillables
While recycling is certainly an improvement on single use plastic, the best way to cut down your waste is by using items that can be refilled. Household brands such as Ecover and Splosh both offer refillable services on their cleaning products, from washing-up liquid to fabric conditioner, hand soap to floor cleaner. Ecover bottles can be used up to 50 times and refilled at local outlets (including Budgens and As Nature Intended – find your nearest here), while Splosh bottles last forever and their refills can be easily ordered online and arrive through your letterbox in compact, highly concentrated pouches. Even better, both brands prioritise natural formulations and avoid environment-damaging toxins.
Watch your water
While there are obvious ways to use less water (shorter showers, turning off the tap while teeth-brushing and filling the sink when washing up), other switches can make a bigger impact. For example, installing a low flow shower head will ensure you use the minimum amount of water for a satisfying shower; tap aerators, which can be used on bathroom and kitchen taps, add air to the stream of water to reduce its flow. Both are easy to install yourself and cost as little as £13.99 and £5 respectively. You might also want to consider investing in an eco kettle. Vektra Eco Kettles (from £59.95) act like a thermal flask, keeping water hot for up to four hours after you’ve boiled it so there’s no need to reboil.
Reduce energy use
Anyone who has lived in a shared house will know too well the passive-aggressive debates caused by the dreaded topic of energy bills. However, decreasing your use of electric and gas can help the planet as well as save cash. Energy-efficient bulbs are a great first step in curbing electricity bills, while using less heating is also beneficial. Installing double glazing may be expensive and impractical if you’re renting but you can improve insulation (and avoid wearing three jumpers) in other ways. Draft excluders are relatively inexpensive (check out somewhere like B&Q) and can be attached to windows and doors to prevent heat loss. Switching your flimsy blind for a thick curtain can make a huge difference too.
Shop secondhand
While it’s certainly tempting to kit out your rented home entirely from Ikea, buying new items that you’ll inevitably chuck at the end of your tenancy is not the most planet-friendly. Instead, shop secondhand at charity shops, car boot sales, vintage fairs or use sites such as eBay, Gumtree and Freecycle. Not only will your interior style stand out (no cookie-cutter Kallax shelves for you) but you’ll be surprised at the money you can save too. Similarly, if you want to get rid of stuff that’s in a usable condition, donate it to one of the above secondhand services or Furniture Reuse Network – an organisation that distributes unwanted furniture and household goods to those in need.
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