Green Agenda
Read our top tips for living more sustainably.
Green Agenda
Top tips for living sustainably
Sustainable living doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are our top tips for taking action to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Reuse and upcycle where you can
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Get yourself a reusable bottle & coffee cup rather than disposable ones – it often pays to bring your own cup as some coffee shops offer a discount off the purchase price when you bring your own!
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Try purchasing second-hand or vintage items (and don’t forget to sell too). Many apps are available, so whether you’re looking to furnish your home, find a new outfit or even sports equipment, there are items out there looking for a new home!
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Up-cycle and find alternative uses for items you would typically just throw away; this could range from reupholstering old furniture to using coffee grounds in your soil to promote healthy plants.
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Swap kitchen towel & foil for reusable cloths and tray liners that can be washed rather than used once and thrown away.
Shop Ethically & local where you can
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Skip the fast fashion and try sustainably sourced garments – you can even discover the journey your clothes take from material sourcing to arriving on the doorstep.
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Food grown locally will travel fewer ‘food miles’ before it arrives on your plate, so consider seasonal fruit and vegetables from local producers.
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Try staycations when looking for a trip, explore the fantastic options available within the UK and reduce your air miles, these can be a big contributor to your carbon footprint.
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Think about the carbon price tag, as well as how much money it costs when making new purchases. This simple mindset change will help you keep sustainability front of mind, everyday.
Reduce your carbon footprint
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Your home could be losing heat through draughts around the property. Check around your windows, doors and between floorboards or up your chimney.
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Draught-proofing these areas can be a cost-effective way to reduce your energy usage and reduce your household’s carbon emissions.
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Wash your clothes at 30c where possible, which will also save your energy bills in the process!
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Check if your clothes actually need washing as they may just need a quick airing, and you can then wear them again.
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Use energy-saving lights around your home to reduce both your bills and carbon footprint.
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Try writing a weekly meal plan to help you only buy what you need to avoid food waste.
Retrofitting your home
Retrofitting is the process of making improvements to your home so that energy consumption and emissions are reduced.
Some examples of retrofitting are:
- Energy efficient lighting
- Ventilation
- Insulation
- Temperature systems
- Airtightness / draught proofing
- Renewable technologies
- Water heating systems
- Energy monitoring systems
Visit the Gov.uk website to see how you could improve your home
Finding a reputable Tradesperson to help with retrofitting
Once you’ve decided to undertake a project to retrofit your home, you’ll need to find suppliers to help you with the improvements to your home.
With TrustMark, you can discover endorsed tradespeople as this can be a challenging part of the process. TrustMark Registered tradespeople are vetted and monitored to ensure they meet the required standards to help homeowners have confidence in their decisions.
What Government Schemes are available?
There are several grants available in the UK to make homes more energy efficient. Some of the most popular grants include:
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Energy Company Obligation
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is the UK Government energy efficient program designed to help low-income households and those living in fuel poverty reduce their energy bills and improve their homes’ energy efficiency.
Under the ECO scheme, energy companies are required to provide funding for energy efficient measures such as installation, heating upgrades, and other energy saving improvements for homes that are eligible.
Find out more information and if you are eligible through the Government website:
The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG)
Local authorities were awarded funding under the Home Upgrade Grant for homeowners to make energy efficient upgrades and low carbon heating to their homes.
This scheme will run until March 2025 and be eligible for households:
- On low income
- Off the gas grid
- Have Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G
- Live in one of the local authority areas listed.
The Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation based in the UK that provides advice and guidance on how to save energy and reduce carbon emissions.
The organisation works with individuals, businesses, and governments to promote energy efficiency and sustainable energy solutions. They offer a range of services that include energy-saving advice, grant and funding schemes, and practical support with reducing energy consumption.
For more information visit their website:
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