LED lights and insulation are great starting points when you’re considering sustainable living in our region. However, there are many more things you can do to save energy and water.

While you might be using some of these strategies, I hope I make you think about other ways to live more sustainably.

Energy:

• Solar panels are a fantastic option for saving on your energy costs. The most cost-effective is solar hot water. In a small household, showers make up about 40% of your total electricity bill. However, if you’re on a fixed income (living on a pension or your super) and you can afford the initial outlay, a full PVC array with a connected battery will reduce your electricity bills to almost zero. You might even get money back. These systems are expensive, though, and the pay-back period is anywhere from five to ten years. Whichever you do, though, will add value to your home.
• Walk or cycle more and use your car less often
• Reduce overall consumption: Turn off lights and electronics when you aren’t using them, especially the ‘vampire’ appliances that use energy when you aren’t actually using them. Even your electric kettle might be in stand-by mode if it’s turned on at the wall. Use your clothesline to dry your washing whenever possible.
• Turn off your phone, tablet and laptop when you’re charging them or at least put your phone to Aeroplane mode. It will charge 50% faster.

Heating and cooling:

• Insulate: You’ll be amazed at the difference this makes, winter or summer.
• Close doors and windows and use curtains or blinds with a thermal backing to keep heat out in summer and in for winter. In summer, open your windows, especially top windows, to let out accumulated heat.
• Install a ventilator fan: You might see these on industrial properties – the whirlygigs that suck hot air from your home. Of course, this only works when there is a bit of a breeze.
• Install awnings on east- and west-facing windows
• Install ceiling fans: Use them instead of air conditioning on all but the hottest, most humid days.
• Upgrade your air conditioner to a more energy-efficient one.
• Use your barbecue outside in summer to reduce the heat load indoors.
• Use weather strips around doors and windows to keep heat in in winter and hot winds out in summer.

Water:

• Install rainwater tanks: Even in drier summers, we get some rain. The calculation is 1 mm on 1 metre of roof gives 1 litre of water. To help keep your garden green, collected rainwater will be a big help for those hotter drier periods.
• Fix leaky taps and pipes: According to this drip calculator, 15 drops a minute can mean you lose 394.2 litres a year.
• Have a smart garden. As we mentioned in a previous article on waterwise gardens, you should group plants by their water needs. Then water early or late in the day to minimise evaporation.

See more about water savings here.

Waste:

• Reduce, reuse, recycle: We all have too much stuff so reduce what you buy. Reuse what you can (like takeaway food containers) and compost your food scraps if you can.
• Cut down on cleaning products (and the plastic they’re packaged in). You can clean most things around the house with a mix of a concentrated detergent like Morning Fresh and some bicarbonate of soda.

Lifestyle:

• Try to eat locally grown and raised food.
• Grow your own food: Even a herb garden is a good start.
• Support local sustainability initiatives, volunteer for environmental groups and spread awareness about living green.
• Make your own clothes if you can sew or buy second-hand clothing you can adapt.

Home:

• Install green flooring next time you need to replace carpet or vinyl flooring.
• Buy second-hand materials (like flooring, doors, windows and so on) when you’re renovating.

We can’t take on personal responsibility for global warming but we can all help even in small ways. Collectively our sustainability changes will add up.

Need advice on selling your Gloucester region property?

As a proud local, I’m here to guide you through the process of selling your home. I specialise in lifestyle, rural and residential properties. I’ve done it myself and helped many families over my career. So give me a call; I’m here to help.