Eco-friendly habits: you can produce more and waste even more
Hello, it’s Claude. You can produce more while still wasting resources: start by reducing unnecessary use, then avoid offsetting your savings with new purchases. Eco-friendly habits are useful when they become routine, not when they serve as an excuse for overconsumption. Heating, hot water, appliances and travel offer practical ways to reduce your environmental impact. The right approach: measure what really changes and stay focused on using less.
Things to do right away
- Set the heating to around 19 °C when the room is occupied.
- Set the water heater to around 55 °C, checking your appliance’s recommendations.
- Completely switch off appliances you’re not using with a power strip that has an on/off switch.
- Run the washing machine and dishwasher with full loads, using the eco program if possible.
- For short trips, choose walking, cycling or public transport.
These habits are a good start, but their effect depends on how you use things and on your home. To find other ideas suited to your needs, discover where to start in each room and simple ways to prevent avoidable waste.
Eco-friendly habits: cut costs without shifting the waste elsewhere
Heating and hot water account for a large share of a household’s energy use: according to available data, heating represents around two-thirds of energy costs, and hot water can account for close to one-fifth. These figures vary depending on the home, climate and equipment, but these are often the areas to prioritize.
The trap is to save a few euros on electricity, then make more purchases or leave appliances running longer. Saving energy only makes sense if it also reduces overall resource consumption. “The best kilowatt-hour is often the one you don’t need to use.”
Useful settings for heating and hot water
Keep the temperature moderate, close the shutters at night and put up thick curtains if your windows let in the cold. A programmable thermostat can adjust the heat to your schedule; savings can reach around 10 to 15%, depending on the home and settings.
For hot water, take shorter showers and install aerators if your taps are suitable. Reducing heated water use by around 10 litres a day can mean nearly 10% less energy used by the water heater, depending on the situation. There’s also no need to pre-rinse dishes in hot water before putting them in the dishwasher.
If your home stays cold despite reasonable settings, first look for heat loss and renovation grants rather than adding a space heater. If you rent, start with reversible measures: seals, curtains and programming.
Electricity: avoid hidden overconsumption
Depending on the appliances, devices on standby can account for up to around 10% of the electricity bill, excluding heating and hot water. You can plug your TV, game console and computer into a power strip so you can switch them off when they’re not in use.
Shift energy-intensive cycles away from peak demand periods, often between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., then between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Fill appliances completely and choose eco programs: recycling doesn’t make up for the energy used to replace an appliance that still works too soon.
| Action | Practical habit | Intended effect |
|---|---|---|
| Heating | Program and limit the temperature | Avoid heating empty rooms |
| Hot water | Take shorter showers | Use less water and energy |
| Appliances | Switch off devices on standby and run full cycles | Reduce electricity use |
| Purchases | Repair, borrow or choose second-hand | Limit waste and the resources used |
One evening, a family simply plugged their entertainment devices into a power strip with an on/off switch. The habit became automatic, and the devices stopped being left on standby all night.
Responsible consumption: take action on what you buy, too
Eco-friendly habits aren’t just about bills. Reducing waste also means reusing, repairing and buying less often. Before replacing an item, ask yourself whether it can be repaired, borrowed or bought second-hand.
In the kitchen, planning a few meals helps you use food you already have and avoid waste. For more ideas, check out these food-waste prevention tips and the ADEME’s practical advice on consumption habits and waste.
On the road, driving smoothly, keeping your tyres properly inflated and removing an unused roof box help avoid wasting fuel. For short trips, cycling or walking reduces emissions while adding a little physical activity to your day.
Two situations to help you choose the right action
If you’re heating an empty room, program the radiator or lower its temperature while you’re away. If you often buy new things, start by repairing, borrowing or reusing items before replacing them.
A three-step method to stay on track
- Step 1: Identify an area that has a big impact on your habits: heating, hot water, appliances or travel.
- Step 2: Choose one specific change to try for two weeks, such as running full loads of laundry or switching off devices on standby.
- Step 3: Check your bill or meter, keep what works, then move on to another habit.
This method helps you avoid changing everything at once. It also lets you check that an eco-friendly habit really reduces consumption instead of shifting the expense elsewhere.
Air conditioning and travel matter too
When the weather heats up, shade your windows from the sun and air out your home during the cooler hours before turning on the air conditioning. If you need it, a setting close to 26 °C can reduce energy use compared with a lower setting, depending on the home and appliance.
Carpooling lets passengers share costs and fuel. Driving without sudden acceleration and removing unused accessories also help limit fuel consumption.
Practical questions about eco-friendly habits
Which eco-friendly habit should I adopt first at home?
Start with heating if it accounts for a large share of your home’s energy use: set a moderate temperature and avoid heating unoccupied rooms. The savings depend on insulation and your habits.
Do appliances on standby really use electricity?
Yes, some appliances continue to use electricity while on standby. A power strip with an on/off switch lets you turn off several devices with one action.
How can I reduce waste without changing everything?
Plan a few meals, use the food you already have first and save leftovers. For household items, consider repairing, reusing or borrowing before buying something new.
Are eco-friendly habits enough to reduce environmental impact?
They help, but their effect also depends on how much you consume overall. To avoid the rebound effect, hold on to the savings you make and limit additional purchases or use.
Thanks for your interest; Claude
