Most people, upon hearing the word ‘eco’ immediately think ‘huge spend for little reward’. Whilst that may have had some truth to it in the past, these days it really does pay to make your home more eco friendly. Not only is it easy, but you’ll probably end up saving a lot of money in the long run. Also look into the Renewable Energy on the Enemalta website for more information.
Switch off lights and appliances when they are not in use. This sounds obvious, but really how often do we leave the TV blaring with no one watching it, or the lights on with no one in the room? A better option is to invest in motion sensor light bulbs for both indoors and outdoors. Not only can they save you a lot of money, but can also act as a great burglar deterrent.
Whilst we’re on the subject of lights, replace old filament bulbs with energy-saving ones. Energy-saving bulbs used to have a reputation for not giving as much light, but nowadays you’ll never notice the difference, except when your electricity bill arrives!
And speaking of updating things, old appliances gobble energy like there’s no tomorrow. Newer appliances are much more energy efficient. The first thing on the upgrade list: your fridge. It’s probably the largest energy consumer in your house, especially if you’ve had it for five years or more.
Whilst it is true that taking a shower uses less water than taking a bath, don’t fool yourself into believing that spending 20 minutes in a power shower with multiple jets is doing you or the environment any favours! Fit a water-saving showerhead to save water and energy consumption.
Washing clothes in cold water using a cold-water detergent will do just as good a job on your laundry as a 90 degree wash. Cold water keeps costs down and makes your clothes last longer.
This is one of those investments that might be a little costly to install, but the savings can be enormous. Do some research: you won’t believe the savings you can enjoy using solar panels in your home (and Malta is obviously the ideal place to make the most of the sun!).
Malta’s roads are congested to the point of insanity. How about leaving the car at home and carpooling with a friend or colleague? You’ll save money on fuel, help the environment and increase the flow of traffic!
To avoid keeping heaters on all the time in winter, block draughts around doors, chimneys and windows using draught-excluders. Double-glazing also helps significantly in maintaining temperature control.
Why cover your our outdoor space with tiles or decking? Plant some greenery and bee-friendly flowers. Avoid using chemicals on your plants and use natural, non-toxic pesticides instead.
There are so many different ways of recycling. It’s not just about sorting your rubbish (although that helps). You could buy furniture made from recycled materials too. Alternatively, recycle old food into a compost bin, so that you’ll have a free supply of compost to keep your garden blooming all year round!