One week into 2026 and, for those who have not yet made any New Year resolutions, there is still time to save money, improve health and wellbeing, and make a difference to the world’s climate.
Unplug
Household spending budgets continue to be strained by worldwide economic uncertainty. Simple ways to avoid unnecessary domestic energy use include unplugging or turning off the stand-by when appliances are not in use. Apart from freezers and fridges, which clearly cannot be turned off overnight, appliances that have constant digital displays and processors (think cable/satellite boxes, desktop computers, modems/routers, and game consoles) are the most power-hungry. Heated towel rails left on all the time are another culprit. While plugged-in chargers may make a minimal difference to individual bills, the cumulative effect of millions of them continuing to draw a tiny amount of energy each is bad for the planet.
Happily, this advice chimes with trends for digital detoxing and nighttime device hygiene routines for better sleep and downtime.
Layer up and turn down
Wearing an extra under or over layer and turning down household thermostats, day or night, can save on energy use and heating bills. The World Health Organisation said in its 2018 guidelines that 18°C (64°F) is a “safe and well-balanced indoor temperature to protect the health of general populations during cold seasons.” Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or children who cannot regulate their body temperature as easily, may need to go for slightly warmer settings around 20°C (68°F).
That may sound low to those used to blazing heat, but it is surprising how quickly most humans adjust to minor temperature changes. Plus, is it really necessary to walk around in a T-shirt at home in the winter? Get cosy with warm clothing and save up to 10% on costs, the US Department of Energy says, by dropping 4-6°C (7-10°F) for eight hours a day, all while doing the climate a favour.
Wash on low and hang out
Choosing a lower temperature setting for washes is also a major action people can take to reduce bills and save energy, since clothes dryers “have a notable impact on the environment due to their energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions,” according to green platform A Sustainable Future. While social media tells us that not having a dryer is considered weird in the US, it is far more common to dry clothes naturally in Europe, and research shows a household running a dryer 200 times a year could save nearly half a ton of CO2 annually by switching to a clothes rack or washing line. What’s more, according to a report by the US Federal Emergency authority FEMA, clothes dryer vents clogged with lint cause more than 15,000 house fires every year.
Lead the way with LEDs
Swapping out an incandescent bulb for an LED saves between 75% and 90% on electricity, economising between $100-$300 (€85.40 to €256.00)over its lifetime, the US Department of Energy says.
Avoid food waste
Food waste generates 250 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually and in Europe alone costs around €132 billion every year, European Commission figures show. British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver recommends learning when it’s safe to ignore best-before dates and use up leftovers, whether it’s using old bread for breadcrumbs or croutons, freezing uneaten portions, or using remnants of veg and herbs for stocks and soups.
Avoiding ultra-processed foods, which often come in excess plastic and packaging and contribute to food kilometres, is good for our health, experts say. Fermented food is also a big gut health trend and is a great way to preserve excess veg for ages. This writer regularly makes Korean kimchi, which is delicious on its own or in a range of recipes and lasts in the fridge for months. Batch cooking and freezing also save both time and energy.
Slow fashion
The fashion industry and clothes manufacturing, and transport are currently terrible for the environment. According to the UN Environment Programme, fast fashion is the second-biggest consumer of water in the world and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions – more than all international aviation and maritime shipping combined and as much as the emissions generated by the European Union, Business Insider found.
Would-be slow fashionistas can unsubscribe from brand email promotions that push temptation into inboxes. Katrina Caspelich, of Remake, a human rights and climate justice in fashion advocate, told the Associated Press, “waiting 24 hours before buying something new often turns a ‘must-have’ into a pass.”
In a world where the three main drivers of the fashion industry’s global pollution impacts are dyeing and finishing (36%), yarn preparation (28%), and fibre production, consumers can also try swapping with friends and shopping second-hand instead of new. Caspelich says an individual on a three-month respite from new clothes can save about 3,900 litres of water, 300kg of CO2 and stop 9kg of clothing going to landfill.
