Items the environmental household should own

View PDF | Print View
by: Ben J White
Total views: 30
Word Count: 489
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 Time: 6:17 PM
0 comments

The government, energy firms and private organisations are all urging for greater energy efficiency in the UK. This should start in the home, ranging from electricity, to the car you drive, to recycling equipment and heating systems. This can bring great rewards, people will start finding energy and electricity bills declining monthly, as well as ensuring a healthier environment around them.

The first key household item an environmental household should own is energy efficient light bulbs. These energy saving bulbs will save money on electricity bills, saving not just energy, but money also. Energy efficient bulbs can save about £37 a year and they have recently acquired greater significance as a government sponsored policy is phasing out energy inefficient light bulbs. At a cost of £2 per bulb, there are positive effects on your electricity bill. The three most common energy efficient bulbs in households today are the halogen, LED lights and the compact florescent lamps. The European phasing out of inefficient bills should be completed by the end of 2016.

Every household, to stay environmentally friendly, can also own environmentally friendly or electric cars. Electric cars produced by companies such as Peugeot appear to be setting the trend. They have introduced the first diesel hybrid car with the 3008 4 hybrid car. The 308 hatchback has low emissions and fuel consumption, a trend matched by a 15 per cent fuel reduction in the 508 saloon version. The new iOn electric model produces zero emissions. Therefore the development of electric and environmentally friendly cars is on the rise and vast becoming integral to the environmental household.

To add to the design of your house itself, solar panels are the main environmental instrument to utilise. An example of solar panels effects are the solar water heating systems that simply fit to the roof and absorb energy from the sun. This is then used to warm water in a water cylinder. The benefits are that costs are low and with a 5-10 year warranty, the benefits guarantee to be long lasting. This also cuts down CO2 emissions and reduces your water bill by at least £50 a year.

Other items integral to an environmental household include a shredder, which not only helps reduce waste paper, but also shreds important documents such as bank details. There are also several biodegradable products such as surface cleaner and fabric conditioner made by plant extracts and sustainable contents, which are much more environmentally friendly than the harsh chemicals in many products. To take this a step further, research online about how to make your own household cleaners, using products such as salt, lemon juice and vinegar, which will not only be a green way of cleaning your home, but will save you money at the same time. Furthermore, several home accessories can be made out of old recycled products. This demonstrates that the household is becoming a more environmental arena and the items which are key to this are becoming more and more popular.

About the Author

Ben J White is an online journalist from Birmingham covering a range of green, environmental issues and the automotive industry. He has been writing articles and blog posts for online publications and specialises in electric cars, low emission cars, 7 seater cars and city cars.