There are lots of ways to help the planet and be more eco-friendly. Small actions add up to make a big difference. So, it is worth taking the time to review every aspect of your life and working out whether you can do things in an eco-friendlier way. Today, we are going to take a quick look at the subject of home appliances.
Repair when you can
My first tip is to repair your home appliances whenever you can. Every year millions of tons of white goods and small appliances end up in landfills. Keeping your fridge and other white goods for longer will help to tackle this issue. It is surprisingly easy to do now you can order what you need online. You can easily fix your dryer with these parts, as well as other white goods and small appliances. There is no need to be particularly technically minded either. There are plenty of step-by-step videos available that will show you how to fix virtually any issue.
You never know, you might be good at it and be able to train as a home appliance engineer. There are courses that you can take online that will provide you with the necessary skills and certifications to be able to work in this field. A lot of people do it as a side hustle and use what they earn by fixing things in the evenings and at the weekend to pay for family holidays.
Look at the energy ratings when you buy
Unfortunately, even if you get good at repairing things, at some point, you will still have to buy new appliances. Nothing lasts forever.
Most countries require all electrical equipment that is sold within their borders to be tested and given an energy rating (for an example of how these schemes work, click here). This enables consumers who want to be more eco-friendly to opt to buy the appliances that consume the lowest amount of energy, which in turn, reduces their carbon footprint.
Learn to use your appliances in an ecofriendly way
Even if the washing machine or food processor you buy has a good energy rating you will still need to think about how you use it. Even the most eco-friendly products will still use electricity if you leave it on standby. Or use the hot wash when it is not necessary to do so.
Choose appliances that can easily be recycled
It is also worth making sure that the appliance you are buying is made largely from materials that can easily be recycled. You will still have to dispose of it properly when you have finally finished with it. If you don’t do so, there is still a chance that it will end up in a landfill facility.
As you can see, the choices that you make when it comes to home appliances can make a huge difference to your carbon footprint. So, next time you need to buy a new kettle, washing machine or food processor take a few minutes to think about how green your buying decision is. Research the best options.
