The new year is fast approaching, so you’re probably already thinking about your resolutions. If adopting a greener home life is at the top of your agenda for 2022, now is the time to get started.

There are many reasons for wanting to go green. Reducing the carbon footprint will protect the planet, encourage improved family health, and save you money in the long run. Moreover, it has become an increasingly common concept for people to embrace. For the sake of keeping up the expected standards, getting your situation under control is advised.

But how? Here’s everything you need to know.

1- Upgrade your lighting situation

Simple steps often yield the biggest change, especially when dealing with our approach to energy usage. Upgrading your lightbulbs is a job that can be completed in a single day while it shouldn’t require a significant outlay either.

The difference between incandescent and LED lights is huge. Moreover, modern LED lighting setups provide far greater flexibility for creating comfortable vibes. The color schemes, dimmable switches, and ability to use recessed lights will work wonders.

Given that it’s one of the simplest updates to make, this is the ultimate starting point. Just be sure to update all lights rather than just some of them. This includes all internal and external living spaces. Trust us, it’s a brighter idea.

2- Focus on insulation 

Whether hoping to save money or the planet, improved insulation should be a priority. As a rule of thumb, the average home loses 25% of heat loss through the roof and 35% from the walls as well as another 35% from windows. 10% is lost through the ground.

As such, you will want to consider double glazing and window shutters. Insulating the walls is another immensely rewarding task while new roof tiles will serve you well. Of course, internal features like draft excluders can aid the cause too.

Reducing the amount of heat lost through the property doesn’t suddenly make you carbon neutral. But there is no doubt that it will have one of the biggest impacts, which will also be reflected in your bills. So, the initial investment will be worthwhile. 

3- Consider power resources

Finding greener energy sources is one of the most effective ways to create a greener lifestyle. Even if you use the same amount of energy, you’ll find that your carbon footprint is reduced without any impact on your daily lifestyle habits.

Renewable energy has been a hot topic for several years. Solar panels are the best solution as they can cover your electricity usage. In many locations, you can even sell unused energy back to the power grid. So, your efforts will help others stop wasting energy too.

Solar tech can also be used for garden light. Hydro tech and other renewables are somewhat less common but are still possible. Aside from the home, you should look to use greener tech for your driving habits.

4- Embrace outside spaces

Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle is often about making smarter daily choices. With this in mind, one of the best upgrades for your home life is to simply spend more time outside. Being around nature will aid your health as well as the desire to live green,

Most people want to spend more time in the garden and are happy to transform their spaces. However, ongoing maintenance duties can cause a far bigger problem. Opting for a minimalist garden design removes most of those issues. Perfect.

There will still be opportunities to grow fruit and veg or implement other steps aimed towards greener living. The fact that more time spent outside with your family, or friends, will aid your mental wellness should promote other upgrades.

5- Learn to repair rather than replace

Home products will become faulty or succumb to wear and tear over time. When this happens, the natural instinct is to replace the product immediately. While it is a necessity from time to time, you should always consider the prospect of a repair.

Repairing a faulty item is often more cost-effective, regardless of whether you use an expert or take the DIY approach. There are plenty of online guides to help you complete a range of tasks. You should gain a sense of satisfaction from doing this too.

By avoiding any thoughts of prematurely sending your appliance to landfill, your carbon footprint will fall. Similarly, by restoring the product to full health, it will run smoothly. Added efficiency will reduce the operating costs.

6- Choose efficient appliances

It might sound a little contradictory following the point above. However, there are many household appliances where tech has evolved at a rapid rate. So, persisting with an outdated machine may be wasting a lot of energy.

Some of the most obvious products to consider are your dishwasher, refrigerator, and washing machine. Upgrading to an energy-efficient toilet is another very popular choice that can cut around 70% of your water usage per flush. That’s a huge difference.

When updating appliances and embracing new tech, you will need to dispose of the old products well. If parts can be recycled, you must ensure that you do this. Otherwise, your poor decisions will undo a lot of the progress gained elsewhere.

7- Consider the brands you use

Many of the habits implemented into your home life can be used outside of the property too. Partnering with eco-friendly companies is one of the best examples. Their influence on the planet easily outweighs yours. So, encouraging change at an industrial level is key.

The best businesses should use renewable energy and efficient practices.  You should be eager to support companies that use eco-friendly packaging instead of harmful plastics. Biodegradable materials are the preference.

Aside from the direct impact on your home life and other areas of your existence, it brings change. Other people will follow suit. And as green companies thrive, the others will need to take note and implement changes too. perfect.

8- Use digital tech

Digital technology has improved our home lives in many ways. However, the fact that it can enhance our approach to green living is often overlooked. With the right facilities, though, you can generate a huge improvement.

A wide range of modern tech features can reduce the carbon footprint. Using a Smart thermostat, for example, means that the system will learn your habits. In turn, it can automate the temperature to ensure optimal comfort without wasting any energy.

Other steps can include using paperless tech for bills, or online streaming services over hard copies. In addition to reduced carbon footprints, it saves valuable space in the home. If that doesn’t inspire you, what will?

9- Change your habits

Adding the right tech features to the home is important. Ultimately, though, the impacts will be severely restricted if you fail to change your ways. Close doors. Turn off appliances at night. And try to cut your waste by reducing your food waste.

In addition to the aforementioned repair jobs, you can look to upcycle. Turning old items into something useful for the home also gives you fun projects. This should be supported by proper recycling duties too. This is one of the best ways to put less strain on resources.

It doesn’t take long to make new habits a natural part of your life. In most cases, you will see natural improvements within a matter of weeks. As long as you commit to this as an entire household, you won’t go far wrong.

10- Be consistent

Finally, whatever you do, you must do it with consistency. Your approach to green living will be better than ever. And once it becomes second nature, you’ll feel on top of the situation like never before.

The UK is a great place to live, whether you’re looking for permanent relocation, a long vacation, work experience, or even just something temporary. There are many things to see and do, including a great mix of open countryside, quirky towns, and vibrant cities.

Any move to another country is going to be overwhelming, but here are 5 tips for a UK move you should consider.

1. Set Your Budget

Any relocation or move requires a strict budget so that you can ensure you know what you can and can’t afford. Especially when you’re dealing with price exchange rates, you’ll need to be sure about your own budget, and how that translates with the conversion rate.

With your budget, think about:

• The cost of accommodation, whether renting or buying

• Travel costs

• Moving costs

• The income you will have (whether you have a job lined up or if you will need to find employment)

2. Research Your Areas

Like any other country, the UK has a variety of area options, depending on what you’re looking for, and depending on your budget. Some areas are famous and coveted, such as the center of London, the Cotswolds, or maybe by the beach on the coast of Cornwall.

Take the time to do extensive research into the different areas, what life is like, and the daily cost of living. You may even want to take a vacation beforehand to specific areas to get a feel for the place and the people.

3. Find a Good Estate Agent

To find the perfect UK property for you, whether rented or if you’re buying, you’ll need a good estate agent — known as a real estate agent in the US — who knows the area you’re looking into. You might want to speak with an estate agent for advice about areas and budget or contact a specific one once you have a chosen UK area in mind. Either way, professional estate agents like Roberto and Co estate agents can help you find your perfect property.

4. Prepare for the Weather

UK weather is notorious for being unpredictable, and if you’re used to a consistent or hot climate, you’ll definitely want to pack the right items to prepare for the weather. No matter where you live in the UK, weather can vary from downpours to extremely hot, although the latter can sometimes be rare. Therefore packing a variety of items suited for any weather, or buying them when you’re in the country, is a good idea to keep you warm, dry, and protected.

5. Decide How You’re Going to Get Around

If you’re going to be driving a rental car or your own car when living in the UK, then you’ll need to double-check road safety rules and get accustomed to driving on the left-hand side of the road, with the steering wheel on the right of the car. If you’re planning on public transport, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself ahead of time, especially if you’re planning on taking the tube in London.

Everyone dreams of moving to a home that they positively love. But not everyone is quite as excited to do all the things that have to happen before that moment arrives. And we don’t just mean the process of saving up, applying for a mortgage, and eventually getting their hands on the keys. There’s also the matter of actually moving. While people can get excited about the end result -- them living in the new house -- the process can be draining. Indeed, studies have shown that the act of moving can be as stressful as going through a divorce. And it’s supposed to be a good thing! 

While you’ll never get rid of the stress of moving entirely, there are things you can do that’ll help to make it slightly easier to handle. We’ll take a look at a few key tips below.

Moving Slowwwwwwwly

Anything can be stressful if you’re trying to do it in a small amount of time. Even tying your shoelaces could be stressful if you only had three seconds to do them both (give it a try). The more time you give yourself to move, the easier you’ll be making things for yourself. Plan ahead, do as much as you can in the few months prior to your move and make good use of your time. You might think that you’re overdoing things by starting early, but trust us, you’ll be thankful you did.

A Professional Approach

It’s not easy to move. Alas, most people that move haven’t got the skills they need to do it well. It takes experience, and since people rarely move home, they often don’t have the chance to build this experience. But fortunately, there are people who do have the expertise you need. A moving company like Bekins Moving Solutions will not only reduce the stress of moving; they’ll eliminate one of the most difficult tasks (the moving part). When you hire a professional company to help you, you’ll be able to take advantage of their experience and expertise. Given the difference between trying to do this task yourself and hiring someone else to do it, the decision should be a no-brainer.

Plenty of Rest

Moving is tiring no matter how you dress it up. As such, it’s important that you’re starting from a place of energy. Nobody wants to move home when they’re feeling close to burnout! In the weeks leading up to the move, be sure to look after yourself and get plenty of rest. It’ll make a difference come moving day. 

Expect Some Bumps 

Finally, you can make things easier for yourself by expecting that there’ll be some bumps along the way. Even if you’ve planned things well, there’ll always be something that makes the moving process slightly more complicated than you thought. If you thought that something like that might happen, then you’ll avoid falling into a state of disrepair. It’s all about setting your expectations. Have a low bar and you’ll nearly always be pleasantly surprised by what happens!

Opening a brick-and-mortar store is an important and exciting step in business. You have done all the hard work, and your dream is beginning to become a reality. 

Whether you are opening a brand new business or bringing your online store to life, there are some important factors you must consider to ensure the smooth running of your operation. 

This article outlines some insights that aim to help you embark on this new journey. 

#1 Location 

The location of your brick-and-mortar store is one of the most important, and practical things that you need to consider. This includes the physical location as well as accessibility. Is it in a place that is easy to get to, and that will easily drive a lot of foot traffic? If you opt for somewhere more remote, then you will have to consider the travel and marketing to drive people there, whereas if you opt for a location that is on a busy high street, you will naturally be able to attract new clients. You will also need to consider accessibility of the building. Are customers able to park on site, or nearby? Will customers be able to enter and exit the building safely and with ease? Are customers or suppliers going to need space to load and unload large items? There are a lot of different things to think about when finding a location, sometimes it looks good on the outside, but you need to ensure it is also practical. 

#2 Maintenance and running costs

A building may look good on the outside, but you shouldn’t be too hasty and jump in without getting extra checks on the building. As they say, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. If you can, get a specialist or an extra survey completed on the location you are considering for your store. This will give you more information on the property, and ensure there are not going to be any hidden or unexpected problems and costs that come with it. 

It is important to learn more about the costs for the general maintenance and running of the building for your business too, so you can budget accordingly, for example, for an electrician or a 24 hour AC service. Research local traders, and if possible, speak with the agents and previous owners who will be able to provide realistic costs.

#3 Customer journey 

You will need to do your homework on your customers and the journey they will take to get to you, to be able to drive traffic when you open. Even if you have an online store and are extending your business to a brick-and-mortar store, you will need to reconsider your marketing efforts. How will customers know you are there? What incentives can you offer to drive customers to your new store? Where are your customers on their journey, and how can you provide a solution for them? How can you make your store more attractive to drive customers who are walking by? 

There are many things to consider when it comes to opening your brick-and-mortar store. Although it can seem daunting at first, with the right strategies built into the foundations, you can open your store with confidence.