New build retirement homes discuss 10 ways to be more sustainable
Are you keeping up with your new year’s resolutions? Maybe you’re about to make the move to new build retirement homes and endeavour to make a few worthwhile changes during the first month of the year? Making small changes to live a little more sustainably is a great way to create positive difference, not only in your life, but in the world surrounding you.
As a green retirement home in Essex, we understand the importance that sustainable decisions can make for our future. Here, we discuss 10 simple ways you can become more eco-friendly this year.
Want to find out more about the homes we have on offer? View our new build bungalows here, or explore our lifestyle facilities here.
A little can go a long way
It’s important to remember that when it comes to sustainability, a little can go a long way. Don’t overwhelm yourself. It’s better to contribute where you can with simple, smart changes, rather than doing nothing at all. As the carbon net zero target gets closer, it’s important that we’re working together to help minimise the global energy crises – it’s never been more crucial.
Experts say that the damage done can somewhat be reversed, but we have to act now. There are many daily swaps we can make to ensure we’re promoting a greener way of living and doing our bit for the planet!
1. Turn it off
This one is an easy switch to implement! Conserving the energy you use is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. You’ll find it’ll save your pocket too! – a win win in our opinion! Leaving your electrical items on standby uses unnecessary energy. So, turn them off at the wall when you’ve finished using them.
2. Try vegetarian options
Going veggie, or even vegan for a couple of meals a week can make a real difference to our planet. Cutting down on the amount of meat you consume is at the heart of being more environmentally friendly and reducing your carbon footprint. Lowering the demand for meat products reduces the land usage and overall environmental damage of the meat industry.
3. Reduce food wastage
With almost over nine million tonnes of food wasted in the UK annually, it’s now more important than ever that we reduce this statistic for both ourselves and the environment! Not only is this a huge waste of food and money, it adds to the amount of CO2 and methane being created in landfills.
If your food has gone past it’s ‘use by’ date, then composting it rather than putting it in the bin certainly makes a difference. By doing so, a natural fertiliser is created and can be used to keep your garden green or can be taken away by the council for use. This helps to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and combats further air pollution. If you can’t or would rather not compost at home, you can always talk to staff at our new build retirement homes about the local composting schemes.
4. Recycle
One of the simplest changes we can make in a successful bid to live more sustainably is to recycle. Chances are, if going green is on your radar, you’re already doing this. It’s easy to accomplish day-to-day, and something we encourage our residents to do at our new build retirement homes in Essex. You can recycle more than you think – just have a look at the recycle now website to see! Before you throw something away, see if you can recycle it instead!
5. Food delivery
For over 55s, getting your food shopping delivered is a great personal help. It can also positively impact our planet. By getting your food delivered during an allocated time slot, it saves multiple cars making their way to the supermarket each hour. One van simply drives around delivering to everyone in the area. Supermarket vehicles are now even going electric, to help cut down on further harmful emissions. Ordering from the comfort of your own home can help to save your pocket too, as you’re less likely to impulse buy.
6. Upcycle
Upcycling, or repairing what you’ve got instead of throwing it away and buying new, is a great step towards being more eco-friendly. You’d be surprised at what you can do with a YouTube video and the right tools! If you’re looking to upcycle, there are plenty of ways you can do so; a simple Google search will give you countless ideas and inspiration!
7. Use greener transport
Considering your methods of transport is an easy way to live a little greener. Many new build retirement homes within a retirement community, like Burnham Waters, often offer group transport options. We will provide a regular shuttle bus to the nearby town of Burnham-on-Crouch. Furthermore, our E-Mobility options will also encourage independence through easily accessible carbon neutral transport for residents. Find out more information about our E-bikes and Electric Carpool here.
Living within a new build retirement home and community means that everything you need is on-site, so you could walk everywhere, with facilities just a stone’s throw from your home. This cuts down on driving and reduces your carbon footprint too!
8. Choose different cooking appliances
Where possible, why not try using your microwave or an air fryer to cook? If you are preparing a meal for one or two of you, it’s a quick and easy way to enjoy dinner! Microwaves and air fryers are extremely energy efficient and cheaper to run than a conventional oven. They’re certainly worth the investment and better for both your pocket and the environment!
9. Buy local
If you are out and about, buying locally saves on carbon emissions. Not only that, but you’ll be supporting the local economy, which means that in time, you’re likely to have even more local items to choose from! At Burnham Waters, our cafes and farm shops will be full of local and seasonal produce to enjoy. Remember, if you’re food shopping, bring a reusable bag or two to cut down on your plastic use!
10. Grow your own
Talking of food, growing your own vegetables, salad and herbs is a great eco-friendly, money saving hack. It’s also a great hobby to indulge in! So, if you’re looking for something to keep you busy over the next couple of months, why not try it?
Growing your own produce helps to reduce your carbon footprint, plus in our opinion, nothing tastes as good as homemade or home grown! You don’t have to have a large outdoor space to grow your own either. Windowsill boxes are a great way to brighten up your view, filter the air coming into your home and offer plenty of space for small vegetable patches! See our plant and produce care blog for a little more inspiration!
Get in touch
At Burnham Waters, we’re committed to creating a greener environment and making a difference within our industry! Our mission to create a positive community for over 55s, which works in synergy with our commitment to the planet. We want to lead the proactive change for our sector.
If you’re looking to find a new build retirement home in Essex, our coastally located village is set within a beautiful and communal ecological landscape. We believe this instils a sense of calm and tranquillity for residents, allowing them to feel closer and more connected to nature within this countryside setting.
If you’d like a little more information about our new build retirement homes, then we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at info@burnhamwaters.co.uk, call our sales team on 01621 861559, or complete our enquiry form for a little more information.
Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of our home page and sign up to our newsletter for all the latest news on our community for the 55 and overs. We look forward to hearing from you!
