Guide to Living Sustainably

Sustainability is the hot topic on everyone’s lips at the moment as we all try to do our bit to help the planet. Here in Chapelton, we are conscious of our impact on the world around us too, which is why we take steps to ensure that wherever possible, we make sustainable choices.

Working with sustainable property developers, like ZeroC which is committed to building low carbon homes, is just one way that we strive to be greener, but we can all be more mindful of our carbon footprint individually on a day to day basis.

If you are looking for some easy tips to help you be more environmentally friendly, then follow the five simple steps below.

Embrace a Car Free Lifestyle

One of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the world is cars due to the huge amounts of Co2 they produce. By walking as many places as possible, you can drastically reduce your carbon footprint.

While living without using a car may not be completely possible for some, in Chapelton we have made it easy for our residents to embrace a culture of walking. Designed with the environment in mind, we have made it possible for our residents to walk to local facilities including the established nursery school, Teacake and The Lounge and by creating new jobs in the town we have eliminated the need to commute to work – meaning less time spent in cars and more time walking in the fresh air.

Be Mindful of Your Energy Use

This one might sounds obvious, but it’s a great way to start thinking more consciously about your behaviour and how it can impact the planet.

Turning lights off when you aren’t using them, unplugging electrical appliances and putting on a jumper before reaching to turn on the heating, are great ways to not only reduce your carbon footprint, but can also significantly reduce your energy bills.

Eat Locally and Grow Your Own

When thinking about ways to live more sustainably, consider the source of your food and try to eat locally where possible. Often, fruits, vegetables and many other items that we can conveniently pick up in supermarkets, have actually had to travel a huge distance using large amounts of fuel just to get to our trollies. By shopping more carefully and choosing local produce, we can support small businesses close to home while doing our bit to save the planet.

Another great alternative to this is to grow your own fruit and vegetables – you’d be amazed at how easy it is. You don’t have to have a huge garden or greenhouse, all it takes is planting a few seeds in a small corner of your garden, in pots on windowsills or in your porch. Sow the seeds and in no time you could have your own crop of herbs, fruits and vegetables.

Say No to Single Use

There is a reason why drinks businesses everywhere are putting a stop to plastic cups and straws – the devastating effect they have on the world around us. Common household single use plastics like disposable cups, razors and food containers use huge amounts of fuel, pollute our oceans and, if not properly recycled, release toxins into the surrounding environment.

Limit your plastic waste by considering the longevity of a product before purchasing it or think about buying a re-usable alternative. Additionally, find ways to re-use existing single-use plastic items in your home so that they won’t sit in landfill for years to come.

Recycle, Resell and Donate

Make sure you recycle as much as possible. Take time to find out what items you can recycle and what items you can’t, separating them from your everyday waste. If you have children, teach them how to recycle too so that they grow up knowing how to make sustainable choices.

For items like clothes and toys that still have some wear / play in them, consider selling them at a car boot sale or online on websites such as amazon. This can help you make some quick cash for products that you yourself aren’t using anymore.

Another option is to donate them to charity shops which are always looking for clothes and toys that they can redistribute to people in need. Giving old goods to charity shops that you aren’t using anymore helps both the planet and the less fortunate who would appreciate the items that you no longer need.

Stop Buying Bottled Water

The final tip is to appreciate the quality Scottish water that comes out of our taps, instead of buying plastic bottles that are hard to recycle and end up polluting our waters. Sometimes it can be easy just to pick up a bottle of water when we are out and on the go but by always remembering to pack a refillable water container, we can drastically reduce our plastic waste, keeping the planet happy.

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