The new year often leads us to set ambitious targets that we may (or may not) achieve. If you want to make sustainable resolutions around the home, but don’t know where to start, James Holmear, director at home builder Redrow has the following recommendations.
Reduce your energy consumption
“You can save around £40 a year simply by turning your appliances off at the mains, rather than just leaving them in standby mode,” suggests Holmear. “Think televisions, computers and game consoles – especially large households with multiple devices.”
Similarly, he says turning off lights when you leave a room and installing LED bulbs around the home can help you save even more.
“Everyday tasks such as washing your clothes and cooking meals can all be reassessed to lower your energy consumption,” Holmear adds. “Look to wash your regular clothes on a 30-degree cycle, and keep the higher temperatures for household linen and soiled items.
“Only do this once you have a full load to avoid running a full cycle unnecessarily. When cooking, put lids on your pans to speed up cooking time, and ensure you only boil as much water in the kettle as you need.”
Be more mindful of your spending
Being mindful of spending doesn’t have to mean not spending at all, with Holmear saying it’s more about having a purpose. As the January sales approach, looking at factors beyond price and appearance can help save money in the long-term.
Redrow’s research shows energy efficiency and being a lower cost to run, alongside price and quality, is one of the biggest influences on white goods and electrical purchases in the coming January sales.
Reduce food waste
Storing your food properly can significantly reduce your food waste, says Holmear. “Keeping foods such as salads and herbs away from the back of the fridge in containers stops these delicate foods from freezer burn and going off quickly.”
He recommends storing fresh dairy products on the middle shelf – as it’s the coolest part – then moving them to the fridge door once opened.
Keeping food that’s close to its sell-by date and leftovers visible in your fridge is an easy way to make sure no food is wasted, stresses Holmear. “And make sure the fridge and cupboards are organised ahead of your next food shop to avoid overbuying.”
Invest in energy efficient items
Smart power strips automatically turn off electricity to all the things you don’t need. These can also be controlled remotely through an app, so you’re able to switch them off even once you’ve left the house, explains Holmear.
It’s not just electricity that can be managed. Elsewhere, app-based heating controls such as Hive mean you never have to heat your home when it’s empty, says Holmear.
Research by Redrow found nearly two-fifths (37%) of UK adults have installed or are looking to install LED lighting around their home, alongside solar panels (13%) and smart tech (12%).
“It’s important to understand what is recyclable and what isn’t,” Holmear encourages. “Get to know what the symbols on packaging mean, check with your local council’s recycling offering – and where possible, choose products that are widely recyclable with a strong environmental stance.”
If you can, investigate options like eco waste bins, which might help increase recycling habits. For bigger items, Holmear recommends upcycling them or passing them on via marketplace platforms like Nextdoor.
“Nextdoor has a feature on the app called ‘For Sale and Free’ – where members can sell their unwanted items, with 25% typically being listed as free,” he says. “While you may have fallen out of love with something in your home, it could make a huge difference to someone else’s.”
As Holmear points out: “The average person throws away around 400kg of waste each year, and many are still unaware of the items eligible to be recycled.”