10 ways to make your home eco-friendly

10 ways to make your home eco-friendly

Want to save the world and save money? Of course you do! In fact, around 87% of consumers would like their homes to be more environmentally friendly, according to recent research. Here are 10 simple, budget-friendly things you can do to go green at home today...

Feature by Jane Murphy 

Give your fridge an MOT

Your fridge is the household appliance that uses most energy, according to energystar.gov. But giving it the once-over can make it much more efficient. Replace worn or broken seals to stop cold air from escaping, as this makes the motor work harder. Ensure the coils at the back are free from dust and debris: dusty coils can impact running costs by up to 25%. And finally, defrost and clean your freezer regularly: an icy freezer uses much more electricity than a non-icy one.

Use rainwater to wash your car

Conserve water by making use of our great British weather! Connect a water butt to your roof drain to catch rainwater: you can then use it to wash the car (once a month should suffice!) or water the garden on sunnier days. Water butts are available in most garden centres - or you can buy one online at http://direct.tesco.com/buyersguide/waterbutts.aspx.

Switch to energy-saving lightbulbs

Energy-saving bulbs use up to 80% less energy than standard bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer - which should save you around £60 over the bulb\'s lifetime. In fact, an energy-saving bulb will use around a fifth of the electricity of an ordinary bulb to generate the same amount of light. So, for example, where you\'d normally use a 60W bulb, you\'ll only need a 13-18W energy-saving one. Find out more at www.earthwhile.co.uk.

Do some canny draught-proofing

Feeling the chill? Draught-proofing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to cut your heating bills. Quite simply, drafts are caused by cold air being forced into the home and warm air being forced out. Filling the gaps with easy-to-fix brushes and seals will stop this from happening: fit them around doors and windows, as well as letterboxes, catflaps and even keyholes. Get more information at www.expertverdict.com

Check your oven

Turn on the oven and see if you can feel any areas from which heat is escaping. If you can, it means you\'re probably using more electricity than you need to. The solution? It\'s easy to fix by replacing hinges, rubber seals or even the complete door. For cost-effective spare parts, go to www.espares.co.uk.

Switch to a wood-burning stove

For a really eco-friendly way of heating your home, consider switching to a wood-burning stove. \'They\'re great for those concerned about burning our limited reserves of coal, oil and natural gas, as wood is the only type of fuel that\'s replenishable,\' says Karsten Aaagaard from stove company Morsø. \'Burning wood is also carbon-neutral, so doesn\'t contribute to the greenhouse effect.\' Find out more at www.morsoe.com/uk.

Declare war on limescale

Limescale build-up in your washing machine or dishwasher will make your appliances far less energy-efficient and can shorten the lifespan of the heating element. Keep that pesky stuff at bay by using an anti-limescale device: check out what\'s available at www.espares.co.uk. Or use a water softener such as Calgon every time you run a wash.

Be laundry-savvy

Give your washing machine - and energy bills - a break by cutting down on your laundry. \'Before you chuck it in the laundry basket, think about whether it really needs a wash,\' says interiors expert Laura Cohen  from www.yourfloors.co.uk. \'And keep energy consumption down by washing on 30 degrees and doing quick washes: I defy you to notice the difference!\' More tips? Always fill the machine to capacity, rather than running it with a half-load. And set it to run overnight when energy costs are cheaper.

Start composting

Roughly a third of the contents of the average household bin can be composted, according to www.recyclenow.com. Fruit and vegetable peelings, teabags, cardboard, paper and garden waste can all be turned into compost. This can then be used in several ways: as a growing media in tubs, pots and baskets; as a \'mulch\' to help prevent weeds, conserve moisture and protect plants from the elements; and as lawn dressing and lawn improvers. You can buy a quality compost bin for as little as £10. To find out more, go to www.recyclenow.com/compost.

Recycle, recycle, recycle!

Recycling saves energy, helps protect the environment and reduces the need for landfill. Most of us remember to recycle our waste from the kitchen, but don\'t forget about other rooms: make sure you sort out the rubbish from your bathroom and bedrooms, too. Check out www.recycle.com to find out about recycling schemes in your area. And do try to go that extra mile, even if your local council doesn\'t. For example, to make recycling easier, it\'s important to sort glasses into separate colours. Kerbside sorting may not be available, but you can often find colour-separated glass banks outside supermarkets.