Ginger Leaf Living

This month………….. Make summer work for you and the planet by ditching the tumble drier!

One of the biggest carbon emitting energy behaviours in our homes comes from drying our clothes using a tumble drier. The energy needed to heat the air and dry your clothes makes this activity one of the worst for the planet in our home lives. So make the most of the more frequent sunny and dry weather and get your washing lines up and air dry your clothes outside. Even when the weather is not so great, using a clothes horse to air dry your clothes in a sunny, dry or ventilated indoor spot can do the job too. The numbers – swapping from the tumble drier to air drying can save on average 93Kg Co₂ e/year, but depending on how frequently you need your clothes drying, this saving could range from 5- to an impressive 691Kg Co₂ e/year, making it one of the best swaps you can make in your home. So the next time your tumble drier gives up, don’t bother replacing it if you can and make use of line drying when the weather allows and strategic air drying using already heated spaces in the colder months.

Other benefits to line drying include increasing your time outside doing something physical – hang out the laundry and spend ten minutes listening to the birdsong and garden sounds, you may find it a nice calming activity to break up the day with. It can also be beneficial to your clothes too, as the UV rays from sunlight are said to have a disinfecting effect on laundry, as well as allowing it to air naturally (https://www.thespruce.com/reasons-to-line-dry-laundry-2145997). You could also reduce your energy bills by ditching another piece of high energy consumption equipment. Of course, if it still has use, either use your drier to the end of its natural life or recycle, please do not landfill even if you are ready to live without it.

So when you open the curtains and see the sun is shining, take a few quiet minutes outside to line dry your laundry and enjoy clothes dried naturally which haven’t cost the Earth 👕🍃

This May………………………….. Make your voice count for the environment in the upcoming elections.

If you are UK based, May is election month, with local elections taking place this Thursday 5th May 2022. Using your right to vote to have your say on change in your country has always been important, but now more than ever it is important for using your voice for the environment. There is only so much we as individuals can change, and a climate conscious government, both at local and national scale, is imperative to creating lasting changes to help fight climate change. So to combine the two worlds, who we vote in matters, and it is up to us to pick representatives who will enact climate action. Here is what to look out for this election and for future votes too:

• Research your local candidates and analyse their manifestos. Do they refer to the climate crisis? How far down in the document does it take for them to acknowledge it? If you read a leaflet or article which does not refer to the environment, that is a huge red flag and should be considered when deciding which parties to support ⚠
• Does the candidate only refer to the environment briefly with little significant proposals? Political greenwashing is frequently used and if you can identify it you can rule out another non-climate -committed party.
• Is sustainability mentioned throughout topics, such as the local community, economy and other local needs? Sustainable development doesn’t end with the environment and effects all aspects of society, so shouldn’t only be referred to in one section. Everything effects the climate, and climate change effects everything!

This election, choose someone who represents your values and the lives of those who can’t speak out – our wildlife and natural environment. The climate crisis in the biggest problem of our time and those candidates who fail to acknowledge this are not only failing their constituents but failing to understand our modern world. No other problem in society can be fixed without a stable planet, so do your research, use your voice and make sure environmental issues matter. 💚

This April…………………. Cut bills and carbon by turning the thermostat down.

*DISCLAIMER* This tip is not directed towards those significantly suffering with the rising cost of living where heating is a difficult topic. But if you are looking to save on bills, cut energy use and reduce carbon emissions and are in a position to do so, please consider the following ideas 🙂

The weather is warming a little more now spring is here, so its the perfect time to see if your household can try living a few degrees cooler than your normal. Heating makes up around 65% of household energy consumption and 61% of household greenhouse gas emissions, the largest contributing household activity. Turning your thermostat down just 1-2°C could save between 219-716 KgCO₂ e/yr, with 1 less degree saving on average 281 KgCO₂e/yr and a drop of 2°C saving on average 569 KgCO₂e/yr. Doing this is one of the biggest household carbon reductions you can make to your heating and hot water behaviours. While the weather may not always be sunny and warm, snuggling up with a fluffy blanket, or layering with jumpers and slippers can be a cosy way to keep warm in that moment when you would normally reach for the heating controls.

Want an extra challenge? Turn off heating completely in unused rooms. When you change your heating patterns, you maximise heating efficiency for your home, save money on energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Another positive win! 🏅

This March……………. Scrap the disposable fruit and veg bags.

Make it a focus to reduce waste this month by planning out your activities so you can take what you need. For your food shop, keep your reusable bags and any reusable mesh fruit and veg bags together somewhere you will see them before you leave, be it by your keys, money or front door, so you can always pick them up on the way out. Then you can pick only the amount of seasonal fruit and veg you need and put them in your reusable bags, reducing plastic and food waste. Step into spring with fresh produce and delicious food, without the guilt of waste 🌺

This February……………………… Make one small change in your kitchen.

Maybe this one seems obvious, but its a great energy saving step – put lids on your pans. Whether its heating up soup, cooking pasta, a stovetop casserole or steaming vegetables, put a lid on your pans to reduce energy consumption and reduce your carbon footprint. Its a win all round: less energy used, reduced energy bills, reduced carbon footprint and quicker cooking times leading to quicker eating times 🙂

So when you step into your kitchen tomorrow for meal time, grab a pan and lid, ease the cooking stress and cut down your carbon footprint in the kitchen. Grubs up!