The Edinburgh Realty eNewsletter

Issue #113 | September 2022

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Six top tips for an eco-friendlier home

You don’t need 5-star energy appliances and solar panels to make a big difference to your environment and your household bills. With just a few wee tweaks to home and habits, you could be living greener while saving cash with our six top tips for an eco-friendlier home.

  1. Make thyme. Sharing a sunny windowsill or deck space with your favourite herbs demands little in terms of space. In return, you’ll bring home less supermarket packaging and have a pretty, mini garden full of fresh fragrance and culinary flavour at your fingertips.

  2. Clear the air. Seek out indoor pot plants that are easy to care for and known air purifiers. For non-gardeners, peace lilies are a great candidate to start with. They can withstand most environments without much fuss and will make your home bright and fresh in time for spring.

  3. Get switched on to LED. Swapping out old lightbulbs for LED lighting is a very simple yet effective way to make a significant difference to your home’s energy efficiency, eco friendliness, and of course, your monthly power bill.

  4. Don’t waste waste. Composting at home diverts veggie and fruit peelings, rinds and cores, egg shells and cartons, tea bags and coffee grounds, and other kitchen and garden waste - away from local landfill and into useful fertiliser for your garden. A home compost system can be as small and simple as a plastic container with drainage holes. Add some quick research online to choose your method and get your layers lined up, and you’re ready to go.  https://tuigarden.co.nz/inspiration-hub/ideas-and-inspiration/a-beginners-guide-to-composting/

  5. Re-think re-use. Living in a throwaway society means that when furniture is worn out, often our first thought is to re-place it with something brand new. Happily, there are advantages to extending the life of our most tired, tatty pieces. Re-covering or re-upholstering a cushion cover, couch or chair, or sanding and re-painting a chest of drawers can be an eco and cashflow friendly way to re-vitalise dated decor and add some character.

  6. Shop fresh and local. Make a regular visit to the Otago Farmers Market or local markets in your area for fresh, seasonal, fruit and veggies, meat, honey, cured delicacies and other goodies that are often grown organically and always close to home. Cut out the excess plastic packaging that plagues a supermarket shop, while getting outdoors, meeting farmers, growers and makers, eating more healthily, and supporting small businesses in your community.