LEADING A MORE SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE: 7 PRACTICAL TIPS

Sustainability has become so intricately linked to political, economic, and social factors that people are often apprehensive about what a sustainable lifestyle might entail.

Related: The five fastest electric cars out there right now

In truth, a greener lifestyle is not as much about any of that, as it is about leading a more economic, efficient, and healthy lifestyle. Contrary to popular belief, going green can really help you lead a better life, while also leaving the world a better place for your positive choices. Just go through the following suggestions to know how practical and beneficial a sustainable lifestyle really can be.

Electric cars: Lease for now

Electric cars have come a long way from their early days, but they still have a long way to go. The best part is that there is indeed a lot of room for improvement here. What that means is that we are going to see electric cars get a lot better in the coming years. At the same time, the UK government is all set to ban the manufacturing and sales of petroleum-powered vehicles by the year 2030. Although it is an essential step towards building a sustainable EV industry, it might land the average citizen in a confusing conundrum.

If someone buys an electric car right now, will it become outdated well before the expected lifespan of a regular car? If so, then why should they invest in a depreciating asset that’s depreciating faster than the norm? The solution for now is to simply lease an electric car, rather than buying one. It’s really the best option for adopting any developing tech since leases allow customers to change models seamlessly and without suffering the expense of having to pay for a highly depreciated asset.

ElectriX will help you find a good lease deal on the electric vehicle of your choice, but more importantly, the site is an amazing source of information on all things related to electric vehicles. They should be able to help you find insurance for the lease as well. If you have an electric car already, check their section about how smart chargers can help you save both the environment and your own money!

Insulation: Affordable solutions

Insulation is as much about being energy efficient, as it is about being cost-efficient. If you can prevent artificially heated hot/cold air from escaping your indoor environment, you won’t need to turn on the AC/boiler as much as you need to otherwise. Since heating your home can burn through money just as easily as it eats through electricity, it’s only practical to improve your home’s insulation quality.

The fact that you are reducing your carbon footprint along the way is a welcome bonus! Now, there are several other steps that you can take to improve home insulation, but the following suggestions are meant to be easy and affordable.

Sealing gaps

Find and seal all gaps that you can find. You will most likely find them around doors, in attics, and near windows. There is no shortage of cheap sealants and weather strips online.

Changing panes

If you don’t have double-glazed, aka double-paned windows already, consider getting them. They solve the age-old issue of heat loss via conduction from windowpanes. Two panes are put together with vacuum/inert gas between them to prevent any chances of indoor heat leaking out.

Seal gaps with a door snake

Doors often have gaps between the door and the frame, allowing cool/hot air to flow in/out at a consistently annoying rate. Since you cannot exactly seal it off permanently with a sealant, that is where door snakes come in. They come in all shapes and sizes, so you should measure your door before ordering one.

Sustainable lifestyle: Buy a smart thermostat

Smart thermostats are no longer as expensive as they used to be in the early days. You can get a complete kit for anything between £150 – £190. The investment is more than worth it because it will almost inevitably bring down your annual energy expenses by implementing automated energy-saving measures.

Appliances: Energy efficient electronics

All electronic appliances sold in the UK come with an energy rating and the most efficient electronic appliances are also the most expensive, unfortunately. To keep costs low, adopt an “as needed” approach to buying more energy-efficient electronics. Only upgrade a home appliance if it’s too old and power-hungry, or when something breaks down for good.

If we buy new home appliances only when we must, we are also doing our best to slow down the rise of electronic waste on Earth. When you do decide to upgrade though, make sure that it has a high rating for energy efficiency. The cost difference will eventually be offset because your new appliance will consume a lot less electricity than your old one.

Sustainable lifestyle: Avoid clothing with exotic leather

According to a report by National Geographic, Chanel, Gucci, and several other luxury brands have been caught multiple times by the authorities, trying to import “exotic leather” for their luxury clothing and accessories. Since animals and especially endangered animals are an important part of their respective ecosystems, avoid any clothing made from unidentified exotic leather, irrespective of how expensive or cheap the brand is. The aesthetic appeal is not worth the cost in money or the animal’s eventual extinction.

Support local organic farmers

Instead of buying organic produce from big brands on belief alone, support local farmers by buying from your local farmer’s market. If they are genuine, they should have no qualms about your wish to visit their farm.

It’s true that their produce cannot really compete with the lower price offered at supermarkets, but genuine effort and honest dedication towards sustainability must be rewarded for them to continue what they are doing. Note that you don’t necessarily have to buy everything from them, as long as you buy some of it.

Become an economic minimalist

The minimalist movement is about a lot of things, but the central theme has always been that of reducing. Now, there are several ways to approach that lifestyle, but it’s important to never lose sight of the practicality behind it all. Don’t end up buying things you don’t need or can’t find an immediate use for. Buying less reduces clutter, waste, and of course, it saves money too! However, there are a few standard guidelines to becoming a practical minimalist:

• Invest in multipurpose furniture.
• Minimise wire clutter and future garbage deposits by going wireless whenever possible.
• Buy regular groceries on an as-needed basis to eat fresh and reduce food wastage.
• Look into residential renewable energy.

Adopt a plant (or two!)

Gardening is a great hobby, but you don’t have to be a gardener to adopt a plant! In fact, you don’t even need yard space to have a few indoor plants in your apartment. You can always start a small windowsill garden of potted plants if you wish to, but that’s not necessary right away.

Start with a single plant if you have never nurtured one before. Surveys show that people with a few indoor plants tend to be less stressed and depressed. Besides, is there a better way to go green than to have greenery in your home? Probably, but it’s a good starting point for anyone looking to make changes towards leading a more sustainable lifestyle.

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