A MINDFUL HOME

Living a sustainable life is more important than ever writer Ida Magntorn is making it easier with these considered points

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1 Look for pieces that can be recycled – solid wood instead of a veneer, for example. The easier a piece of furniture is to sand down or remake, the more likely it is to be a long-term purchase.

2 If we consistently swapped the climate-damaging paraffin candle for candles made from stearin, it would cut our carbon emissions by the same amount as if we removed 15,000 petrol cars from the roads.

3 Washing up by hand consumes three to four times more energy. A modern Grade A dishwasher uses 10-15 litres of water per cycle, depending on the programme. And, of course, only run the dishwasher once it’s full and use an eco-friendly detergent.

4 Having the radiator in the bedroom (or in any other room) set at a degree lower is an simple way to save energy and care for the environment. When you go away, it’s enough to keep it at 15°C.