If you are renting your home, there are limits to what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. It is not possible to install heat pumps, put in double glazed windows or install solar panel roofs without the landlord’s permission. But what can you do instead? It’s still possible to reduce your carbon footprint by managing your household in an efficient way if you follow these steps.

Switch to a renewable energy supplier

Buying your energy from a renewable energy supplier can reduce your carbon footprint by a massive 1.5 tons alone! It’s the most effective way of cutting emissions with little effort and renewable energy providers do not cost more.

Change all light bulbs to LED lights

LED lights are more efficient than any other light bulb. Avoid buying traditional incandescent light bulbs which waste energy as heat rather than light. This will save £45 on your yearly energy bill.  

Switch off light when you are not using them

Surveys show we waste energy when we don’t bother to switch off a light in the room. The worst situations we do this is when we go out for the day or keep them on the in the night when we are sleeping. Apparently, the most likely place we accidentally keep lights on is in the bathroom.

Set your washing machine and dishwasher on a colder setting

When washing your clothes, set your washing machine and dishwasher at the lowest temperature. This will save money on your energy bill as well as lower your CO₂ emissions from washing clothes and dishes.

Reduce your food waste

It is estimated that the average UK household throws away the equivalent of 8 meals a week! Be aware of whether you need the food you are buying and avoid buy one get one free offer or two for three offers. Remember that best for end dates simply mean when the food is at its freshest, so you don’t have to automatically throw it away at that date. Also, freezers keep food fresh for longer and it stays edible.

Have a shorter shower on a cooler setting

Energy is needed to filter, heat and pump in your home. The less water you use, the less energy is needed, which reduces your carbon footprint. Simply reducing your time in the shower by a minute can make a big difference. Limiting your showers to 4 minutes will save you £40 a year. Lowering the temperature of your shower also means you are using less energy and could lower you bill and carbon footprint further.

Use an air fryer to cook food

Air-fryers are very efficient and versatile of cooking. They do not cost much and can easily replace an oven. Air-fryers act like a small convention fan oven and are increasingly becoming popular in the UK because they cook food faster than an oven, they are easier to clean and healthier for us because oil is not needed to cook food. It is possible to make all kinds of meals in an air fryer, even roast dinners! Research by the Energy Saving Trust shows cooking 600g of chicken breast would cost 14p with an air-fryer and 24p with an electric oven. Air-fryers use significantly less energy than an oven and surveys of those who have an air-fryer say they have seen a reduction in their energy bill. It saves energy, money and will cook healthier meals! It’s a win-win for you and the planet.