3 Changes to be Environmentally Friendly in your Home and at Work
Films such as Netflix’s ‘Don’t Look Up’ have brought the topic of global warming and environmental changes to the forefront of people’s conversations over recent weeks. As more of us are talking about how our actions are affecting the environment, Fast Skips, who provide waste management and skip hire in the UK, thought it would be a good idea to share some changes we can all be doing at home or at work to improve our carbon footprint.
1. Clean green at home and at work
Cleaning products are used at home as well as in the workplace by all of us. They’re often affordable and easily accessible for most. However, are these cleaning products causing a detriment to the environment?
Although they’re very affordable, cheap cleaning products often contain harsh chemicals that are toxic to both humans and the environment. This is increasingly worrying now that offices and workplaces have to be cleaned more regularly due to the pandemic. As well as the toxic pollution, it has also meant an increase in plastic and aerosols from the extra packaging being used.
A greener solution is possible. Ecofriendly products can now be purchased from most supermarkets and requested from cleaning companies. They do come at a slightly higher cost but are naturally derived, meaning they’re safer for the environment, yourself, and your staff. Another option is purchasing refillable cleaning products; depending on your location, independent shops and supermarkets are now offering this eco-friendly option.
2. Get in the habit of switching lights off
Whether you are at home or at work, it can be easy to accidentally leave lights and other appliances on when they’re not in use. To save electricity and improve our carbon footprint, we all need to be better at reminding ourselves to turn them off.
This can be done with regular email reminders and posters to encourage staff to get into a good switch-off habit in the office environment. Some companies may want to dedicate this job to an employee and ask them to double-check the switches before leaving at the end of the day. Posters are also a great way to remind staff, especially if they’re placed near the switches.
When you’re at home, try and incorporate the switch-off policy into your daily routine, before leaving for work and before going to bed.
3. Choose a green energy supplier
Around the UK, it is still common for fossil fuels to be used to fuel electricity and gas for homes and work environments. The problem with this is that fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, which is then put into the atmosphere, affecting the environment and the ozone layer.
However, there is a greener alternative that we can be using at home and at work. Green energy suppliers create their green energy through renewable sources. This includes solar panels and turbines and is still very affordable in comparison to fossil fuels. Prices can easily be compared on energy price comparison websites with multiple companies to choose from.
Although it would be nice for everyone to make this change, it is not always possible to easily switch contracts to consider. However, small steps like speaking to energy suppliers and getting quotes for when you are able to switch are still positive. If you are not the decision-maker for things like this at work, you can still raise your concerns and suggest they take a look at greener energy alternatives.
We can all be doing many more things at home or at work to improve our carbon footprint. Things like changing energy suppliers and cleaning products may seem like a big step at the moment, but there are lots of other small ones that will still be making a positive impact.
- by Matt Watts
