Opt out of consumerism, buying for trend and fashion. Only buy new materials and products when necessary. Repair, renovate and refurbish what you already have.

By reducing the amount of things you buy, this helps limit the amount of waste you create in your home; packaging, unwanted products, food waste etc. Help lower the demand on landfill sites - an environmental nightmare!

Be mindful of the amount of water, electricity and fuel you use at home. They use non renewable resources which create huge amounts of carbon emissions. The biggest offenders are heating, cooling, ventilation, appliances, electronics and artificial lighting.

Made from petroleum based materials these toxic substances are found in carpet, paint, varnish, textiles, sealant, adhesive and plastic casing. The manufacturing process uses phenomenal amounts of energy and releases carbon emissions. In your home these chemical substances let off hazardous VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and lower the quality of air, causing risk to health.

Large houses need far more energy and resources during construction, occupancy, renovation and demolition. Do you use only 20% of your living space? Are there any areas rarely used, yet still heated, lit and furnished? Something to consider...the amount of space you need is probably less than you think.

e.g. Sustainable timber, renewable natural materials and recycled content. Reuse & renovate second hand items and recycle after use to increase resource efficiency and long life spans.

Anything you throw away goes into landfill sites. Recycle as much as you can from aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles to giving your old furniture to charity shops.

Maximise the amount of natural light in your home to reduce the amount of energy and resources you use, as well as for your own wellbeing. Consistent natural light increases productivity, lifts your spirits and gives a general feeling of comfort.

Indoor air pollution can be 5 times the concentration of outdoor pollution. It is broken down into: combustion pollutants, biological pollutants, VOCs and heavy metal pollutants. Keep your home well ventilated and keep humidity under control with natural and mechanical ventilation methods to improve the air quality and lower the hazard to your health.

Choose local retailers who stock products from local manufacturers using regional materials and local labour. This will help reduce the energy used for production and need for transportation which are huge contributors to the carbon footprint of a product (embodied energy).