By Sea N' Soul
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12 Nov, 2021
We are in the midst of a climate crisis, and while it is undeniable that the majority of damage is being done by a few extremely large companies (according to The Guardian , one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by just 20 companies), it is also undeniable that we, as a global community, have the power to enact seemingly small changes in our lives that collectively will make a huge difference in the fight against climate change. Here are 5 ways that you can make your home more environmentally friendly: Wash your clothes in cold water - according to Energy Star , up to 90% of the energy used by your washing machine goes to heating the water. So naturally you can reduce up to 90% of your laundry energy by using cold water. Hang dry everything you can - not only will this greatly reduce the energy consumption of your laundry routine, but it is also better for your clothes and will make them last longer. Win win! Use a programmable thermostat - this cool little device allows you to schedule the heating/cooling of your home. On most models you can schedule, by time of day and day of the week, when you want your system to heat, cool, or turn off completely. In the winter it’s best to lower the indoor temperature while you are sleeping to save energy, and you can program a thermostat to start heating your home 20 minutes before you wake up to ensure you are still comfortable while saving energy! Get window treatments - not only will these make your home look amazing, but in the summer months they help to shade your home and keep direct sunlight out. This will stop your home from overheating and therefore stop your AC from working overtime. Use a toaster oven - this might sound silly, but hear me out. Heating up your oven every single time you need to cook something (like 1 or 2 potatoes) is a huge waste of energy. We suggest you batch cook your food weekly if you can, this will save you from heating up your oven multiple times throughout the week. If you need to re-heat something or cook something in the moment, you can use a toaster oven which requires much less energy than heating the whole oven. There are so many more ways to make your home more energy efficient, but these are the top few that we think are really important and accessible to everyone. What’s your best tip for an eco-friendly home? Tell us on Instagram @seansoulreuse !