Sustainable Living Starts at Home

Sustainable Living Starts at Home

Climate change, also known as ‘global warming’, is without a doubt the biggest motivator behind the ‘go green’ movement. But even though it’s a great motivator, many people struggle to start implementing sustainable habits at home.

Leading a more sustainable life at home is going to take more than just making your own compost (even though that is a pretty cool idea) or closing the tap while you brush your teeth (which, by the way, is also not a bad idea).

Sustainability includes so many things, it would be nearly impossible to fit it all into one article. In a nutshell, it begins by reducing waste and finding ways to conserve resources in your home. At the end of the day, eco-friendly habits really do save us money but even more so, it saves our planet.

Where to start?

Going back to basics is the only way forward. As Isaac Newton said: “Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.”

We have complicated our lives so much that the thought of changing our lifestyles completely in order to reduce waste and live greener lives is quite overwhelming. The good news is that it’s easier than you might think. Here are three basic steps towards leading a more sustainable life:

1. Minimise

A minimalistic lifestyle sees a commitment to reducing the complexities of life and allowing yourself to focus on things that really matter. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?

We might be stating the obvious here but by simply using less, you conserve more - be it less energy, less water, or less paper and plastic.

How do you use less?

• Minimise water usage by taking a shower instead of a bath. You can also replace regular shower heads with low-flow shower heads and install low-flush toilets. Less water to heat means saving water as well as energy.
• Minimise the use of electricity by switching off a light when you leave the room. Turn off heaters, fans or air-cons when you leave the house.
• Look for products that use less packaging. Less packaging means less raw materials used.
• Minimise your waste and help the environment by recycling! Just make sure you recycle in the right way, otherwise, your efforts may be in vain. Find out what can and what can’t be recycled; get your setup right to make recycling easy, and remember to keep things clean! Items may just be discarded as normal rubbish by your waste company if you fail to rinse it before tossing it. What a shame that would be!
• Go minimalistic in the way you eat. Opt for seasonal, local foods that involve little or no packaging and support small farms. You could also grow your own food.

2. Maximise

What you have at your disposal - be it clothes, food, water, energy, or any other resources. Use it all. Wear it out. How?

• Make your own compost by separating your organic waste from other waste and using it as fertiliser in your garden or potted plants. Did you know you can even use all those brown paper takeaway bags in your compost?! Here are some more excellent tips on home composting. And if you’re totally not interested in making your own compost (we’re trying not to judge you), give your organic waste to a treehugger friend.
• This year, South Africa faced the worst drought in 23 years and the demand for water just keeps on increasing. Basically what we’re trying to tell you is: get the most out of every drop of water because every drop counts! With proper treatment, greywater can be put to great use - from laundry and toilet flushing to irrigation of plants. By implementing a simple greywater system at home, you could save as much as 30% on water usage. A genius idea if we’ve ever seen one.  Also see our tips for using greywater in your garden here.
• Buy proper shopping bags and keep them in your car to avoid having to buy new paper or plastic bags each time you do shopping.

Small adjustments make a big difference towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

3. Prioritise

We all know that money doesn’t grow on trees and that’s why we need to prioritise how and where we spend our money. Prioritising and adopting a more sustainable way of living at home is one of the easiest ways to make your money stretch further. At first, frugal living might seem expensive and a little uncomfortable but before you know it, it will simply be your new lifestyle. In addition, you’ll be making a difference and the planet will be smiling back at you.

About the Leapfrog Property Group

This month we’re focussing on the ins and outs of green living. We are #green inside and out.

Leapfrog Property Group is aimed at creating long-term wealth for every person involved. As the new kid on the block, we offer a fresh and innovative approach to buying, selling, renting and property investments, ensuring the best property deals for clients across South Africa.

Sell your home with the #greenteam!

To learn more, visit: http://www.leapfrog.co.za/list-your-property/