How to be Sustainable in Winter

With COVID19, it should be no surprise that the coming winter season will be different. With Winter Wonderland cancelled, ice rinks closed and other festive activities being postponed it might seem as though the jolly and giving nature of the upcoming celebrations has been diminished. However, we can still spread some joy and good by using this time to consider how we could give back to the environment. The issues of global warming and climate change have been buried under the immense amount of information about the pandemic, but this is not to say that climate change is any less of a pressing issue.

Eat Or Give

Food waste is one of the most prominent issues related to the winter season. We tend to overeat during this time. This is not unusual of course, eating helps to generate internal heat, subsequently leading to a rise in body temperature which is beneficial in the cold weather. However, these tendencies can often lead to overeating and overbuying food.

Excessive dinners have a massive impact on the environment as large amounts of our food end up in the trash. To avoid overeating and to reduce food waste this winter practice portion control. If you have overbought please donate to food banks in London who are struggling to provide enough food to Londoners during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Warm Up With Using Less Energy

Cold temperatures are also a culprit in heightened emissions during this season. With higher than usual proportions of the population working from home this winter, we could see the nation’s energy bills rise to as much as £1.9 billion between October and March. Heating alone accounts for about 40% of our energy consumption, with approximately 95% of that coming from non-renewable energy resources. It doesn’t have to be that way! Here are five things you can do to decrease energy consumption, save money on your heating bills, and do your part in saving the environment!

• Keep the thermostat low, there’s no need for excess heat!
• Dress for the season, festive jumpers and all! or add more layers of clothing
• Reuse oven heat
• Keep windows closed to preserve heat
• Use hot water bottles

Sustainable Sweater Weather

Winter is coming, and as we enter the season for ‘sweater weather’ you may feel tempted by the copious amounts of readily available and attractively priced clothes. Of course, we can indulge in a little shopping, but we should do this sustainability and responsibly.
Fashion companies are the second-largest polluter in the world and create more emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

There are, however, many options for a climate and human rights friendly fashion. Bands such as Patagonia vow to use sustainable production methods such as the use of recycled plastic bottles in the manufacturing of fleeces. Charity shops are also a great choice as they rely on a reduce-reuse-recycle scheme for the obtainment of the items which they sell.

By following these sustainable winter tips, you will be doing your bit in the fight against global warming and will see a bigger bank balance, unless you go on a Patagonia shopping spree.

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