Popular methods of making your retirement more carbon friendly

Thanks to all the green movements it’s becoming increasingly easy to live in more eco-friendly ways. People are better educated and are more equipped to live greener lifestyles, making better choices about how and where they live and the way they consume energy.

As people grow older, a more carbon neutral retirement is becoming an increasingly viable option especially with those who have the spare time to improve their home and live off of the land. Here are some popular changes that people are beginning to make in their lifestyles.

Home Improvements

From draft proofing, extra insulation, heat pumps and solar panels, making small changes to the home can make a huge different to the environment. During retirement, people have more time to get round to DIY that they just never got the chance to do while working and with options like the green deal, eco-friendly home improvements are much more accessible.

Efforts to make the home more carbon neutral will not only help to increase the value of the property but will help save the older person money on their energy bills. With the UK having some of the worst levels of home energy efficiency in Europe and fuel prices constantly on the rise, improving homes is a fantastic way to help save money and live a healthier, greener lifestyle.

The Good Life

Another common retirement aspiration is to live the good life and attempt to live off of the land or at least become as self-sufficient as possible. Growing your own food is becoming increasingly popular as food prices continue to increase and interest in responsibly sourced, organic food is on the rise this seems like a perfectly viable option to do with the extra time.

A large piece of land isn’t always necessary when it comes to trying your hand at working your green thumb. People have had much success in putting food on their table from growbags filled with potatoes on their patio and window boxes bursting with vegetables. Pinterest and the internet are perfect sources of inspiration with how to get creative with the space that you have.

Allotments are another fantastic option, if you don’t have a sizeable garden and don’t fancy gardening within your home see what plots available locally. Many people also find that this is a great way to meet local gardeners, share tips and make new friends. Check here to find allotments near you.

A holiday home

All that spare time and nowhere to go? Many retirees like to invest in a holiday property to retreat to during the summer months, with park homes along the coast being an extremely popular option. Flying overseas is extremely damaging to the environment, the standard eight hour flight generates 3.4 tonnes of carbon and increases an individual’s annual carbon footprint by almost 25%.

With flights abroad and insurance costing an absolute fortune, staying in a familiar location within the UK is often a more popular option for older generations. Being able to visit a space that they know and love is the perfect way to wind down and enjoy their retirement.