Energy bills are taking a toll on every household in the UK. In the winter the rising energy bills put a heavy dent on low-income households. Using old heating systems such as boilers can play a pivotal role in surging energy bills.
The rise in energy bills is due to many factors. Firstly they are not energy efficient consume a greater amount of energy and produce less heat. In addition, old boilers emit greater amounts of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide.
All of these factors lead to an increased carbon footprint at home and outside. But you can always play a role in reducing your carbon footprint by upgrading your boiler system. However, there is also an option if you are unable to afford a new heating system such as an air source heat pump or boiler, if you are a resident of the UK and own a home. Just check your eligibility by entering your postcode, answering a few questions, and getting notified about the approval or rejection. For more info, click here.
You can adopt various green home heating solutions that can help you reduce your carbon footprint. Some of them are inexpensive, while others may need a huge investment. But in the end, they will benefit you in reducing your carbon footprint. Let’s take a look at those methods.
Insulate Your House
One of the best ways to save energy and reduce carbon footprint is to insulate your house completely. Hire a professional to audit your home for places where air leak occurs. Once the areas are identified, just insulate them to avoid heat loss.
You can also check air-leaking areas in your house by placing a candle. If the flame starts to swirl, it means the air is passing through. Just cover the place or insulate it, whatever suits it.
Wear Warm Clothes
Heating systems are good and effective to keep you warm and comfortable. But you don’t need the heating system to run 24 hours a day. Turn it off when the rooms are warm enough so that you can sit comfortably.
But once you feel the cold, just wait for a while and wear warm clothes. Avoid using heating systems whenever possible. Wearing warm clothes can keep you warm and eliminate the release of carbon.
Replace Your Light Bulbs
Energy consumed due to lighting might not feel much but it accounts to almost 9% of average usage. That does not mean you need to turn off your lights even when needed. The best way to reduce carbon emissions is to replace your old light bulbs with new LEDs.
One of the reasons to replace them is to save as much energy as 75%. Moreover, the life span of LED lights is far greater than ordinary bulbs.
If you compare LED light with an ordinary one, you will see the difference in terms of heat. Ordinary light bulbs will be much hotter than LED bulbs. If you are running an air conditioner in summer, the amount of energy consumed will be much greater. You can also go for smart LED bulbs that can be controlled from a smartphone and also allow you to change color according to your mood.
Stop Buying Bottled Water
If you buy plastic water bottles every time you go out, you are playing a vital role in creating chaos in the environment. Don’t use plastic water bottles instead buy a metallic bottle that can be easily carried. It will also help you save money and contribute more towards green and eco-friendly environment.
According to a study, around 80% of plastic water bottles are not recycled. If you buy a plastic water bottle, make sure to dump it in the vending machines that even pay you back for disposing plastic waste.
Use Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper
Toilet paper rolls are made up of trees. And as we are progressing, trees are being cut down at an alarming rate, which leads to global warming. Did you know, it requires 17 trees and approximately 90,000 liters of water to produce tons of toilet paper rolls?
So using toilet paper is not an eco-friendly approach. There is a better solution to it. You can buy eco-friendly toilet paper made out of bamboo. As you may know, bamboo can grow at a rapid speed within a few days. Make sure to use bamboo toilet paper instead of regular ones to reduce carbon footprint and conserve trees.
Install a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are a blessing nowadays when bills are surging at a whooping rate. You can install a smart thermostat that can be programmed according to your needs. By installing a smart thermostat, you can cut down on your energy bills and make your home eco-friendly.
If you are one of those who often forget to turn off the heating system before leaving home, then a smart thermostat is just going to make it easy. One of the benefits of a smart thermostat is that it can adjust to the temperature outside and adjust the temperature accordingly. If you are worried about how much will the next bill, then a smart thermostat will allow you to track your usage and calculate the bill accordingly.
Summing Up
Reducing carbon footprint on macro and micro level is our responsibility. It will not only be good for our living, but also will serve the coming generation. Adopt eco-friendly methods that are not to expensive and can be easily managed without spending tons of money.