Eco Friendly House And Garden

These days, can you just pick a chair you like the look of?

Of course you can, but do you want to? I mean, what is the history of that chair? Is buying it going against some of your principles? Have you been paying to NOT buy that chair – and then buying it anyway?

I mean where your chair comes from, what it is made of, who made it and how it was made are all important ethical and environmental issues – as well as how that chair got to your store, how it is held together, and what will happen when you don’t want it anymore.

And is it even safe to use?

If you donate to or fundraise for wildlife, humanitarian or environmental charities you should consider these questions in detail – otherwise you could be causing the very problems your charities are trying to prevent.

By not thinking about the direct and knock-on effects of what you choose to buy – and therefore endorse – you are not only wasting your time and money – you are helping to destroy the very things you believe in.

Does that chair look better in your home that that tiger did in a jungle?

If you could actually see that painted chair off-gassing volitile chemicals in your nursery – would you still want it in your home?

The above examples just tell you what actually does happen in all these cases – but just because you can’t see it at the time – it doesn’t mean you can ignore it.

Study The Facts:
It is very easy for all of us to just carry on as ‘normal’ and buy whatever we want when we want to – and that may still be true for food and medicines – as these are human essentials and people aren’t willing to change that much.

But buying non-essentials like chairs and other furniture and nik naks should really be considered in a lot more detail as you have a clear choice about what you do and don’t buy. And when you buy anything – you are saying to the manufacturers that you agree with, or at least are not bothered by, what they are doing.

If you buy non-FSC wooden furniture you are saying that you don’t mind if rainforests are destroyed along with the animals and plants living in them. You are paying them to destroy an ecosystem.

If you buy non-organic or high VOC paints and adhesives in your chairs you are saying that you don’t mind if animals as well as our own air and waterways are slightly polluted with potentially dangerous or toxic chemicals. You are paying to risk the lives of both people and animals – and ultimately our food crops and drinking water.

photo credit: PINTOY®

The Grey Areas:
Of course, there are always a whole range of factors that go into making a chair, and what you feel strongly about – but say the perfect eco and human friendly chair = 10 points.

Even if everyone only settled on a midway chair or 5 points that is still going to make a huge difference to our planet as well as the lives of individuals. Ironically it is probably schools, nurseries and offices which buy all the worst furniture as the wholesale companies they use for practicality don’t often have such green credentials.

So the very place where young people play and eat, and the very places where adults spend most of the days are causing a huge dent in this 5 point average life.

I know price and ease of purchase are huge factors working against you buying the best eco products – but it isn’t just your choice of chair you are making – you are helping to choose the future, your family’s future.

So next time you really need a new chair – think about what else what you could be losing in exchange.

Reusable bags are all around us these days – but what are the pro’s and cons?

I myself use several types of different bags for different occasions – but my friend thinks that they are the worst thing ever! Why are there so many types and why wouldn’t you like them?

Their Purpose In Life:
After listening to my friend discussing why he didn’t like my reusable bags – I asked him why they were invented in the first place. He went for the eco friendly angle – but in reality, they are just a replacement for a plastic carrier bag.

photo credit: Rachel Medina

Now I really don’t like plastic bags from supermarkets as they have no real shape, they are noisy, they tear easily, they are painful to carry if heavy and you can’t put them over your shoulder to carry. However, my reusable bags are the opposite to all this.

Bulky Jute Bag:
My bulky jute bag has great shape to it, even when set on the floor. The handles are soft and wide and just long enough to sit over my shoulder if I want to shift the weight.

It is larger than A4 so I can keep books and notes in it, and being open-topped I can easily get things out and find things as and when needed.

It does have its downsides though; firstly this open-topped feature means that security is low when I am in a crowd or when I take a rest and place my bag on the floor, and if I don’t have anything in the bag (like on the way to the library) you can’t fold it up and it tends to flap about in the wind.

Flimsy Cotton Bag:
I have several flimsy white cotton bags with various different companies advertising on the side – but all are basically the same shape and size. They are very easy to shove into my rucksac or other bags so that when finding something extra to carry they can flap open and be filled with goodies.

They are a light as a feather and so I can take all 4 out with me without them becoming a nuisance – and I am not too bothered if I carry them around all day and don’t use them.

And they can be washed.

Their downside is that they have no structure whatsoever and loading them up 1-handed can be a bit of a pain sometimes. With the extra long and thin handles (perfect for over the shoulder action) they can get all tangled up when trying to unfold and carrying them by your side is impossible – as they drag along the floor.

The Result?
Well, I just love my reusable bags (including the fact that nearly all of them were free with a promotion) and although they each have their uses – they are a zillion times better than plastic carriers – and much easier to use than a bulky rucsack with zips (and the fact that it is on your back!).

I mean, if you get them any bigger, they would just be holdalls – which are of course – reusable bags too!

I think that small reusable bags have filled a niche that needed filling – with or without their perfect eco credentials – and I would be just as happy to use a non-organic material reusable bag over a carrier anyday.

photo credit: New Internationalist

Deciding to stay at home for the day – instead of a walk in the park – could end up costing more than you thought!

Obviously a day out on a plane won't be better than staying at home, but if you take yours kids out to a local park, woodland or beach – you could be saving electricity, water, food and all sorts of other resources.

Lets take a typical afternoon stroll and a day at home as comparisons for a family with 3 kids, and see what could happen in both instances – good and bad…..

Pack Up Your Troubles:

Right, so the kids are up and have had a tasty breakfast.  They have played about a bit with each other and are starting to get restless.  The sun is shining – so let's get going.

Firstly, you would make a nice packed lunch or healthy sandwiches, fruit, vegetable sticks and maybe yoghurts.  You then fill up bottles with some cordial, grab a blanket and some balls and off you all go.

photo credit: Chris. P

Even if you drive somewhere local first, the whole afternoon spent playing with the kids and eating 'raw' foods will have been very easy on the environment.

The kids will no doubt entertain themselves for most of the time, maybe learn something while they are exploring, find plenty of natural things to 'own' and have worn themselves out for when you get home!

It's Mine!

However, at home there might only be one of something – and so the arguments begin!  Maybe even forcing you to end up buying multiple items in the future to avoid the rows!

And will your kids choose to eat a cheese salad sandwich on brown bread if they had the whole kitchen to choose from? I doubt it.  There will be demands for larger meals of more processed foods (if you have them in the house) or maybe even a cooked meal instead – all adding up over the day and increasing the washing up and filling up the bin!

There is also the likelihood that they will want to play with electrical goods while at home too – as this is where the power is.  No doubt they won't be choosing the watch nature programs and play online puzzles either – they will be watching endless American movies and playing tiny consumer games on they energy-intensive hand-held gadgets!

Share The Love:

I am well aware that all kids like different things – and that taking out 3 kids every day can be very time-consuming and sometimes expensive – I'm just suggesting that a simple trip to the park isn't so bad to force on them.

Many parents I know think that the local park is so boring – but that is a parent-only point of view.  We as adults just see the same old swing, round-a-bout and climbing frame – but the kids will see castles, speed trials and ways to show off their bravery (or stupidity in our eyes!).

I know of kids who beg their God Mother to take them around the block on their bikes every time she visits – just because it is something different for them – rather than a life-changing experience.

So going out for a walk or picnic isn't just great fun for the family and energy-saving - it can also inspire and entertain! 

Using the incorrect medical services could be draining valuable resources – so learn your medical ABC!

That's DR ABC to anyone who has taken and Emergency First Aid course in the past few years – and you should all consider such a course – whether you are required to at work or when volunteering – just having family and friends should be enough encouragement.

I mean, why do we take a first aid course to use at work – when your family are more important to you than an unknown work colleague or a customer in your shop who you have never seen before?  Surely learning the basics of first aid should be a priority for everyone.

But it isn't just Emergency First AId that is essential – being consious of the threat level for that person can also help you choose the best course of action that uses the least amount of unnecessary resources and wasted time without putting the casualties health at risk.

Emergency First Aid:

Obviously, I can't teach you the basics of Emergency First Aid in this article, but I can let you know that a person who you find collapsed needs you to act on them fast. 

This doesn't mean that they need you to go and get help quickly or call an ambulance asap – if means that they need you to clear their airway and check that they are breathing confortably within a few seconds of finding them.  Otherwise getting help or calling 999 will be a waste of time for 2 reasons:

1) if they aren't breathing and you leave them for as little as 5 minutes - it is unlikely that they will survive.

2) if they were breathing and had just fainted (or were just drunk) - you would have called an ambulance unnecessarily.

Yes, of course – if you are in doubt about a collapsed person and have checked their breathing – then call the emergency services and take their advice, but by calling an ambulance before assessing the full situation you could be taking the emergency services away from someone who really needs them.

There are only a certain amount of ambulances available in each area – so calling one out to a person who is just drunk could mean that a heart attack victim could have to wait too long for emergency treatment.

Other Medical Services:

We all know how long you have to wait up A&E to be seen – but we all still go there without a thought.  So by thinking ahead we could reduce waiting times by not getting in the way of more important procedures.

For example, you can self-treat many simple injuries like wood splinters, small clean cuts and sprains, but when would a nosebleed need to go to hospital?  Either call NHS Direct or visit them online to get advice before you head off anywhere.

And if you had a rash but felt well – you shouldn't go to your GP but your pharmacist.  Same goes for coughs, colds, advice on medications and known medical conditions as well as minor infections and minor pains.  Rather than take up your GP's time and services – you can just pop in to any pharmacy on the high street or local shops (many have consultation rooms too).

And what about that nasty infected cut, that small bump on the head on a minor burn?  Where would you go?  Hopefully not A&E – they will have more serious things to be getting on with and you could be sitting there for hours waiting until they have time to see something so non-life threatening.  So where would you go?

Well, the NHS have opened many smaller and more specific centres across the country to help deal with non-emergencies that people need to get checked by a professional without queueing in A&E or making a specific appointment with their Dr; they are Minor Injury or Illness units as well as Drop-In Clinics. 

These allow you to pop in during their extended opening times without an appointment and get seen to by a nurse or doctor as appropriate.

So basically – unless you have a life threatening condition (like you are having chest pains, losing a lot of blood, are unconsious or can't breath) then don't rush to your local emergency hospital – grab your First Aid book, go online or pick up the phone and find out more first.

It makes eco sense to plan ahead and assess your needs.

Is there really an eco difference between a Bulldog and a Beagle?

When you are thinking of buying a puppy and are considering breeds that are easy to train, good with children or don't shed hair – shouldn't you be considering the eco side effects of these breeds too?

All dog breeds and cross breeds (dogs that have obvious traits of one or 2 breeds but are not pure) have a certain amount of 'known' traits that can end up taking up time and money – and maybe affecting their health – and your families enjoyment of having a dog in the first place.

General Health:

Firstly – there are breeds of dog which are known to have certain health issues within the breed circle – for example you might hear the following phrases: all Westies have bad skin; German Shepherds often get bad hips and Yorkies have bad teeth.  Of course not every single German Shepherd on the planet will have hip problems and other breeds of dog can also get bad hips – but there are trends that are common in certain breeds.

So, should you not buy one of theses in the first place – incase it ends up needing ongoing treatment, pain-killers and possibly surgery? 

Of course there are breeders who have made sure that the unhealthy breed traits are not found in their offspring – but should we even consider the risk?

The last thing I would want as a dog owner is a sad sick dog who always has to take certain tablets, can't walk very far, is always in pain or is at the vets every other month.

And all those car journeys, treatments, tablets, operations and specialist diets aren't much good for the environment either!

The Type of Dog:

Not only are there known health issues with certain breeds – there are also certain breeds themselves that can generate problems without really trying.

photo credit: bomb_tea

For example; dogs with very short faces will virtually always get out of breath with exercise, and make terrible breathing noises in hot weather.  Dogs that have heavy flaps of skin will no doubt suffer from some types of skin problems, including ulcers, eczema as well as harbouring fungal infections and ticks.  Dogs with long bodies can find themselves with skeletal and muscular problems if overweight, with too much exercise or just as they age.

Why would you buy a dog with the potential for these health issues before you even take it home?

And You?

Well, nothing genetic that a dog has wrong with it can be 'caught' by humans – but surely you got a dog as you enjoy the outdoors and think that they will be great company in the home – so what if it can't fit that bill?

A dog with itchy skin problems, sore joints, digestive upsets and breathing problems isn't really going to suit your needs.

How can you go out all day with the kids if the dog can only walk for an hour at most before collapsing in a heap?  You won't want to take it to the local park if it has loose stools or patches of fur missing, and you can't ask a friend to watch it every time you go out can you? Or make it wear a giant headcollar so it can't chew itself!

And you won't get a moments peace indoors with a scratchy dog following you around, or a stiff old thing that keeps slipping over as it wanders between rooms, or a dog that has to have a tablet every 4 hours through the night!

So, when you are considering a new dog, don't just think about whether they are easy to train or if they are the same colour as your sofa – think about the environmental effects of owning them too.

Final Note:

Of course, any dog can get ill and as a result suffer from any of these complaints, but there is a difference between 'knowing' that these complaints exist in the dog when you first buy it and having them happen by accident.

I mean your car might break down at any time – and mine have done just that – but would you buy a car that was known to break down every year?  Would you regularly eat spicy foods that make you ill - or do you avoid them completely because of that?

However dogs aren't disposible items – once you buy one, you will have it for around 10-20 years – so think that far ahead!

If you lost your beloved family Pet – how could you get it back fast!

There is nothing worse for a pet owner to find your pet isn't where it should be at dinner time – or to have your dog run away while out on a walk after being spooked!

You just feel terrible and can't stop looking until you find them.

But what if there was a way to find out if anyone has found them before you.  What if you were wandering around the streets calling for them, yet unbeknown to you – your lost dog was being pampered and looked after by a local veterinary surgery.

However, the vets don't know who this cute pet is!  They have no idea how to find you (unless your pet is micro-chipped of course) and even if your home number is on their collar – you aren't at home to answer it.

Join A Network.
Instead of feeling alone in finding your pet, why not find a way to send your pets details out in one go to all the relevant people.

Rather than searching through phone books looking for local pet stores, kennels, catteries, rescue centres, vets and all sorts of other possible 'pet finding places' and then having to call them all and rattle off all your details time after time – just tell 1 person.

There are many organisations set up for finding lost pets, but some of the best ones are those that send out a mailshot (including texts and faxes) to a whole network of possible 'finders' all instantly. 

These Lost Dog Finder companies have found all the relevant contact numbers and have spoken to all the organisations in advance to make sure that when their information is sent through – it is treated as urgent – not as junk mail.

Save All Those Resources:
As you can imagine, the time involved in calling them all yourself and your phone bills, mailers or travel expenses going to and fro can be huge – especially if you added up all the people who have ever lost a pet in your area, your county or the country doing the same!

And it isn't just your resources either!  I volunteer at an animal rescue centre and we get several calls virtually every day for lost pets.  Not only can the conversation take up at least 15 minutes of (volunteered) time – we also have to take all the relevant details onto a paper spreadsheet, housed in a folder on the side.

Needless to say, you would call at least 10 such charities or vets in the search – who all have to take down the same details on their spreadsheet in their folder on their shelf.  And they might also get several calls everyday.

Now of course, we all want you to find your pet safe and well – and we won't stop offering this Pet Finder service – but if you multiply that up to around 250 such calls a week, that's over a 1000 such calls a month.

With a texting/faxing alert system, that could be reduced to 1 single call from you (the pet owner) and that same information gets sent out to everyone that same day.

But My Pet Won't Get Lost:
If I have a penny for every time someone says to me 'this is the first time Fluffy has run off' I would be so rich!

If everyone thought ahead and accepted that there is a possibility for things to go 'wrong' then there would be far less faffing around when things did actually go wrong – and as a result, things could happen quicker.

If everyone had a plan in place for when or 'if' their pet was to go missing – then they would be more likely to get it back within the day – or even within a few hours!

Planning ahead was never easier or more eco friendly!

Shouldn't being eco friendly be easier than not being green?

Why do so many eco friendly alternatives mean 'putting yourself out' or taking longer to get things done?  When you are a busy mum or are running a tight business – green alternatives should be making your life easier – not slowing you down!

So, I have found a few great eco inventions that could make being eco aware that much easier – and hopefully save you time and money along the way…..

Whole House Switch Off:
Why waste time checking all your plugs and appliances are switched off before leaving the house – because if you are in a hurry – you might not be so thorough!

By wiring up your whole home – or just parts of it – to 1 single 'OFF' switch your life couldn't be easier!  Obviously it won't be linked up to your fridge and freezer, or anything else you need to leave on – but all the lights, TV's and other appliances will switch off until you return home!  Easy.

Power Aware Cord:
If you don't fancy a giant one off switch, then maybe glowing power cables can make it easier to see if things are switched off before you go to bed rather than climbing behind units and cabinets to check the wall switch.

Strida 3 Folding Bike:
Rather than having to carry around your bike seat, take spare clothes to work or wipe oil off your trouser leg – you could ride a tiny folding bike instead!  Gone are the days when a bike was in 1 piece and you needed to worry about leaving it outside.  No more riding in the rain or catching your shin on the pedals when pushing your bike into the garage! 

This neat little bike folds up so easily and is so portable that you have nothing preventing you cycling to work or town knowing that you can still pop inot the shops – or catch a bus if it starts raining!  And they are thinking of making an even smaller, lighter version too….

Eco Friendly Room Dividers:
There are several different eco friendly room dividers on the market that can change the appearance and layout of a room without resorting to stud walls, re-decorating or demolition. 

Either made or felt, wood, eco-friendly plastics or strengthened cardboard and designed in a modular fashion – these 'walls' could be made, shaped or moved to suit your needs – without great cost.  And coming in a variety of colours – they could act as temporary 'wall paper' as well then changed with the seasons being used again and again over time.

Just keep them coming…. We need more like these……

What is this eco friendly living method that is creeping into our lives?

You have probably heard of the Permaculture movement, but aren't really sure what it is all about.  The prefix 'perm' doesn't immediately sound eco friendly or green, but suggests permanency – long term goals and aims.

But long term 'culture'?  The word doesn't instantly connect with your changing lifestyle – but it could.

Define Permaculture:
Well, there are plenty of definitions all revolving about the same point but emphasizing the particular niches within it:

"Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in natural ecologies."

"Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. This synergy is further enhanced by mimicking patterns found in nature."

"Permaculture is sustainable land use design. This is based on ecological and biological principles, often using patterns that occur in nature to maximize effect and minimize work."

"A system of perennial agriculture emphasizing the use of renewable natural resources and the enrichment of local ecosystems."

Basically, permaculture can be seen as a way of living and farming in synch with the way that nature would do it herself.

In the way that natural cycles in weather, plant distribution, human activities and so forth carry on regardless when unaffected by humans – why can humans fit into that system rather than change it?

Forests grow from bare rock in nature; each plant or animal finding the best way to fit in to the changing habitats – so why can't humans exploit that natural series of events to help them survive – and without affecting it adversely.

Change Isn't Always Good.
We know that over time, a heath will become overgrown with scrub plants which will eventually turn into trees and so a woodland is born – and this is the way that nature works best. 

But when humans want the land to stay free of trees – they have to go against that very natural pattern – and this takes time, energy and money.  For example, large scale farmers have to plough the land regularly to stop other plants growing, kill insects with chemicals, kill wildlife by other means and basically fence off the natural habitats long term and feed and water it excessively in order to grow the 1 thing they want.

However, permaculture looks at growing crops that are naturally occurring there – or can grow well in that location without draining on resources or getting rid of natural plants and animals as a result.

It still isn't an easy job as you need to be able to survive on these crops and make a living from them- but you use nature to help you farm and grow them instead of chemicals and a life-long battle!

The Basic Plan:
Permaculture is a working science with some very technical examples - but its principles can be easily understood.

Ideally a working system would use less energy, increase productivity and help restore or balance the natural environment.

For example housing the duck pond near your flower garden or veg patch so that these ravenous feeders can eat all your garden slugs for free (saving you food for them and chemicals to kill your slugs).  Or growing mature trees over your water source, so that less water evaporates from it and the plants can water themselves. 

photo credit: george.schon

Much of this you might think is common sense – yet we still buy white bread (which has most vitamins and minerals bleached out of it – with man-made vitamins and minerals added back in afterwards) and we sell all our home-grown milk to other countries and then buy milk back from yet more countries to make up the difference!

And the principles of permaculture are just applied to farming methods – they can be applied to almost any human environment including cities!

But that's a whole other story……

photo credit: Bryn_S

Whatever you want a balloon for in the first place – it will mostly end up as litter whe you're done!

They might be brightly coloured and fun for the kids, or in huge numbers for the work party - but they are terrible for the planet and wildlife alike.

But – as with everything – there are choices you can make as to how god or bad you want your balloons to end up being on the environment. 

Even if your balloons are bright pink – they can still be very green!

First Things First:
The most eco friendly balloon is one that is never used – so ask yourself: do I even need a balloon at all?

What are we saying with a balloon that can't be said with something else – like a plant, a new hat or a homemade cake!

Most balloons end up a litter in some far away environment – mainly due to parents assuming that children won't 'let go' of it (which is as likely as your children never spilling a drink, or dropping food) or organised events trying to celebrate something by releasing non-biodegradable litter into the air!

But people still want a balloon don't they; so here are some easy things to think about when buying balloons that could make all the difference to what happens to your balloon after it flies off in to the distance.

Tie A Knot – rather than using a plastic stopper – as this means there will be less waste created and less resources used in the first place.

Use Some String – rather than using a shiny ribbon or metallic tape – as this means that the string can be chewed through if it entangles an animal, and will biodegrade far faster than shiny things!

Don't Use Shiny Anything – rather than using a natural rubber or latex balloon – why would you want to use man-made non-recyclable or compostable materials to celebrate anything?

photo credit: Lunchbox Photography

Use Fresh Air – rather than filling the balloon with Helium – as this will reduce the demand for such a rare gas as well as preventing its release into the upper atmosphere.

Use Latex  - rather then using non-biodegradable rubber balloons – as this will degrade easily in the environment or in your compost heap rather than choke a seabird!

Don't Let Go! – rather than risking your balloons early departure, always tie it down securely.  Don't assume that you or your children will hold on to it forever – as you know they alwasy get away!  Even if you balloon is tied up with a knot, attached to thin biodegradable string, filled with your breath and made out of latex – you still don't want it to fly off!

So, 6 great ways to make your balloons better for the environment!

Using aprons and covers for furniture isn't just something nans and great aunties do – it's eco thinking!

We all know that the key to eco friendly living is making good things last longer – rather than throwing away cheap items and buying new ones instead.

And what better way to protect something valuable or just something that you don't want to have to replace that often, than using a protective cover when necessary.

I don't mean covering your carpet in plastic sheeting all year and not letting anyone sit on your furniture – I am just thinking of the simple ways to make your household items last that little bit longer - by reducing waste, and saving you some money in the long run too.

Protect Your Belongings.

Needless to say that when you go out in the mud and rain – you don't put on your Sunday best!  When painting your home I'm sure there won't be a silk blouse or sparkly evening dress anywhere in sight.

It's because you don't want to ruin something unnecessarily when you could have worn something less valuable – or something already dirty instead.  

So why, when you cook your favourite Mexican or Italian dish, don't you protect your everyday clothes?  No doubt you are entertaining friends or have just got in from work – so why aren't your 'nice' clothes worth protecting to?

photo credit: Leszek.Leszczynski

A simple apron – whether practical or indeed comical – could stop fat, dressings and sauces splashing onto your everyday clothes.  You might even make it into 'your thing' – like 'Sarah always has some comedy apron on' – no doubt leading up to whole host of crazy birthday presents from your friends and guests! 

You might be thinking – "but I can just wash the food off" and you are completely right – but at what cost?

Wash, Scrub & Tumble:

Most outer clothes can be washed less frequently than other garments – for example how many times do your socks get washed in relation to your overcoat?

But washing comes at an environmental cost, as do the washing chemicals for heavy staining, the hot water and the subsequent spinning and drying.  So why would you want to create more work for your household appliances and add to your growing budget?

An apron can be used day after day without excessive washing – basically you expect to have a dirty apron – that's what they are for!

And you clothes stay cleaner for longer, can be worn more than just the once in most instances and you will use less energy and resources per cooking experience.

And it's not just aprons that protect your clothes of course; so raincoats, Wellington boots, coveralls, and well worn clothing that you kept hold of over the years can all be used when things are going to get dirty fast!

Protect Your Home:

And it's not just your clothes that need protecting – your furniture and fittings could do with a little help too.

Rather than replace the whole entrance carpet due to the patch of muddy wetness near the door – why not buy a nice rug that covers that area and create a shoe storage area that will keep the mess contained.  That way you only need clean, wash or replace that rug instead of the whole downstairs!

Similarly, make a cover for the footstool that can be cleaned seperately, use a table cloth, tea and plate coasters as well as investing in a pair of slippers or house shoes for everyone to keep the whole place in perfect condition.

Other kitchen tips might include things to reduce the amount of cleaning you need to do and so reduce the chemicals needed.  For example invest in proper microwave containers to prevent explosive splashes up the interior and buy smaller oven trays as and when so that you don't have to clean a whole tray to cook 3 sausages or a few leeks!

And when you choose replacement fittings, appliances and paints, etc – look for the one you like that might last a bit longer depending on your families needs.  For example, darker wall colors in homes where hallways are narrow, so that things that bang against the walls don't leave obvious marks, and coarser darker carpets and rugs in home with back gardens that lead straight indoors – especially where dogs and cats are involved, as I know they don't wipe their feet!

Even internal doorways can become worn down through repeated use, so maybe consider rugs there too, and moving the furniture around always keeps the carpets fresh in a room where a 'pathway' seems to form – like around your bed or along the hallway between dining room and kitchen or wherever.

By protecting the small part of the whole item that will bear the brunt of your actions – you can make the whole item last longer, and you will soon see the eco (and financial) gains from your actions.