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Make your home eco-friendly
Anyone who cares about the quality of their home life knows that many of the most important domestic details are out of sight, such as the gizmos that make your kitchen drawers shut gently and quietly, the thermostatic mixer that keeps your shower at a steady temperature when someone turns a tap on and the wiring that lets you turn the bedroom light off from your bedside as well as at the door.
Such design details are not all that is hidden from view. Behind every switch and polished surface there is an on-going story of environmental impact that is all too easy to ignore amid the ups and downs of everyday life. Few of us think of climate change when we turn the cooker on or worry about air pollution when we have a carpet fitted yet everything we do has a wider impact on the planet and on the lives of current and future generations.
Happily making your home more 'eco-friendly' is not difficult. Don't worry if you don't have the time or money for major works like installing solar panels. There are lots of ways you can make a difference, even on a small budget. Here are my top ten suggestions of cheap and cheerful ways to reduce your impact on the environment without sacrificing your quality of life.
1. Change your light bulbs. Energy efficient (compact fluorescent) light bulbs now come in all shapes and sizes so you don't have to look at egg whisks all day. There are even bulbs available that can be used in ordinary dimming circuits (see www.megamanuk.com). Energy efficient bulbs may be more expensive than ordinary bulbs but they will save you money because they use far less electricity and last much longer.
2. Use a clothes airer. Tumble driers use huge amounts of electricity and don't do your clothes much good. If you have a bit of ceiling spare, install a drying rack that is lowered to load up the washing then raised to the warmest part of the room to do its job naturally. Available from The Natural Collection.
3. Buy second-hand. Whenever you buy something second-hand you keep valuable resource in use and cut out all the energy and resources needed to make a new product. There is plenty of furniture in the world already, so why make more? Don't go shopping until you have checked out what's available on eBay.
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