By CEO Kellie Byrnes
As World Environment Day (June 5 each year) gets closer, I
thought it was a good idea to look at some of the easy ways that you can make
small, yet sustainable, changes around the home. While a lot of people tend to
think that living green takes a lot of effort and money, that’s actually not
the case. Many eco-changes are quick and cost-effective to implement and after
just a short while you won’t even notice that you’re making a change. Read on
for five no-excuse changes that I recommend you implement in your family if you
haven’t already.
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
I’m constantly amazed by how much paper and cardboard goes
into landfill when it can be recycled instead. Although you might think that
recycling takes too much time and energy, it really is a very easy habit to get
used to and something that is fun to implement as a family. I encourage you to
think twice about filling up your everyday green bin all the time, as a lot of
the waste in the home is actually recyclable. Things like aluminium cans, glass
and plastic bottles, and many shipping satchels and microwaveable containers
can actually be recycled and will free up room in your other bin. If you’re not
sure if something can be recycled in your home’s bin then contact your local
council for confirmation. Don’t forget that you can also take a lot of other
items to specialised recycling centres rather than adding them to landfill. The
list includes products such as mobile phones, computers, motor oil, ink and
toner cartridges, appliances, and batteries.
Wash in Cold Water
This is such an
easy change to implement and will not only save energy and reduce your power
bill, but also keep your clothes in better condition. I choose the cold water
setting on my washing machine 99.9% of the time (occasionally I’ll have a load
that’s really stained that I feel needs heat) and honestly don’t have issues
with my items getting nice and clean – even from the red mud in my backyard
that is so often inflicted onto my clothes from my two active, affectionate
dogs! I’m not sure where the myth that the washing cycle needs to be above 30
degrees came from, but it really is not accurate. When you go to set up your
next wash, remember that the majority of the energy used by the machine is
spent on heating the water. Also, using cold water in the wash helps to prevent
your clothes from shrinking, and won’t wear them out as quickly either.
Utilise Natural Cleaners 
I never liked using toxic, strong-smelling cleaners in the
home or office and often found that they made me feel light-headed and nauseas –
which has to make you question what’s in them, right? I haven’t looked back
since choosing to use a variety of natural cleaners instead, both in my home
and at work. My favourite tools to have on hand are the very simple, and very
cost-effective, ingredients vinegar, bi-carb soda and lemon juice. Even the
most baked-on grease stains in the oven or on the stove top come off using a
combination of bi-card soda vinegar, which just goes to show how powerful the
natural choices are. There are also a lot of really great, eco-friendly
cleaning sprays and detergents on the market now too. I’m a fan of brands like
Eco Store, Earth Choice, Planet Ark’s Orange Power and Seventh Generation, but
there are a number of other options available around the country too, so it’s
really not difficult to find a more natural and earth-friendly alternative to
use.
Install a Water-Saving Showerhead
While it is now mandatory in Australia for all new 
buildings
to have low-flow showerheads installed, many older houses and apartments could
still do with an update. Happily, water-saving devices have come a long way
over the years and you’ll find that many of them offer good water pressure
these days. This means you can make a simple yet effective choice for the
environment (and your budget, if you pay water bills at your property) while
not having to sacrifice comfort. When it comes to water levels, it’s of course
always a wise choice to never leave taps running when cleaning your teeth or
rinsing dishes. You can also save water by only turning the dishwasher on when
it’s full, rather than running them a cycle when you have hardly any dirty
dishes collected.
Choose Reusable
Another really simple way to go green in your home or office
is by choosing to purchase reusable products rather than disposable ones.
Rather than go through plastic water bottle after plastic water bottle,
purchase one of the many funky stainless steel, glass or other BPA-free
reusable water bottles on the market and BYO your own bottle wherever you go. (These
water bottles not only look good, but also make a really practical gift idea
for men, women or children at all times of year). It’s also a simple thing to
make use of reusable bags at the supermarket or on other shopping expeditions.
While I know that a lot of people find they buy bags and then forget to
actually take them when they go to get groceries, getting into a simple routine
will fix this issue in a heartbeat. Whenever I bring groceries home in my
reusable bags I simply unpack all the items and then hang the bags on the front
door handle, or sit them on the floor at the door straight away. This way, the next
time I’m headed to my car I definitely won’t forget them, and don’t have to go
to any extra effort to make a greener choice either.