It’s no secret that we’re living in difficult times. Energy prices are constantly on the rise, and it seems like every other day there’s a new story about some landfill site overflowing with waste. It can be hard to know what we can do as individuals to make a difference. But one thing is for sure: buying locally is more sustainable than buying from big-name, online retailers. In this article, we’ll explore why that is, and how you can make the switch to buying locally without sacrificing quality or convenience.
Fuel prices, as we will have all seen, have been increasing and inflation is up and looks like it is here to stay. This has a knock effect on things like food prices but what can we do to combat this issue when we make buying decisions, especially to things like white goods?
Firstly we can consider buying locally. Often when it comes to things like white goods the first thing many consumers do is reach for the nearest search engine and not consider the ecological impact of our purchasing decisions. The carbon footprint of delivering bulky goods is often high and when you take into account the shipping process it’s easy to see why buying locally can be more sustainable.
In addition, by buying appliances from local businesses we are helping to support our local economies. This is becoming increasingly important as big-name retailers close stores across the country and our buying decisions increasingly are based on what we find online.
So, other than buying locally, how can we make more sustainable choices when buying white and electronic goods? One thing we can do is look at the energy rating of the products. By purchasing energy-efficient appliances we can save money on our household bills, and this will more than offset any increased initial costs from buying an appliance that has a higher energy rating.
Another important factor to consider is whether the goods you are buying are appropriate for yours and your families needs. To explain, if you are a single person household what would be the most appropriate dishwasher or washing machine? Probably a model that is smaller in size and has an energy rating of A or B. If you have a large family then you will need to buy a machine that is bigger but make sure it also has an energy rating of A or B.
The same goes for other white goods like fridges, freezers and ovens and even microwaves – think about what you need before buying a product and make sure to buy the most energy-efficient option for your needs.
The final thing we can do is think about how long we expect our white goods will last us. Most products come with a guarantee of at least two years, or even ten. If you’re replacing an appliance that’s less than two years old, then you’re probably not getting the most out of your money.
In conclusion, when it comes to buying white goods there are many things we can do to make more sustainable choices. By thinking about our needs as consumers and by being mindful of the energy ratings of appliances we can save both money and help the environment.
