Sustainably through the winter

Winter is here and brings cooler temperatures again. Some love it and others flee into the warmth. We show you how you can survive the cold months carefree at home - and sustainably.

Winter is here and brings cooler temperatures again. Some love it and others flee into the warmth. We show you how you can survive the cold months carefree at home - and sustainably.

Some love it and others hate it: winter. Regardless of whether you like it or not, it comes every year - sometimes it lasts longer and sometimes shorter. Everyone has their own tricks and preferences for surviving the cold winter days as unscathed as possible. The following tips should help you to get through the winter months in a sustainable way.

Regional before international

Actually, the rule "regional before international" applies all year round. But especially on cold and dark winter days, the desire for something fresh, such as exotic fruits or berries, sometimes wins out. It goes without saying that these have long transport routes behind them and are not typical foods in the cold season. If strawberries are a must in winter, they can be frozen in summer and eaten all year round. If you are not sure which vegetables or fruits are seasonal, you can find out with just a few clicks on the internet or get advice directly in the shop.

Artificial instead of real fur

The colder the wind that blows around your ears - perhaps warmed with a NIKIN hat - the more comfortable you feel in a thick, warming winter jacket. Every year, models are on offer whose hood or inside is "spiced up" with fur. Customers then assume that they are buying faux fur; actually logical, because the animal suffering in the fur industry has not been a secret for a long time. However, very few people would think of wearing real fur instead. Why should they? All the more shocking, therefore, are the test results of Stiftung Warentest, which were found in 2016 with four jackets and one cap apparently lined with artificial fur. All (!) of the examined garments contained real fur - despite the clear indication that it was artificial fur. Even more frightening is the fact that real fur from China is often cheaper than artificial fur. There, the animals are kept under horrible conditions before being gassed or beaten to death. To distinguish artificial from real fur, you can blow into the fur. Faux fur remains stiff and immobile, while real fur clearly moves. To avoid weird looks - just leave the fur, real or not, out altogether.

Mountain air instead of sandy beach

Winter sports enthusiasts and lovers are really looking forward to the time when the thermometer drops to minus degrees again, the mountains are white and the skis and snowboards can finally be taken out of the cellar again. Where better for winter sports enthusiasts to pursue their passion than in the Alps? Do away with long flights or car journeys and take advantage of the opportunities offered by our many mountains. The best is usually not far away anyway and even more ecological. In winter, the mountains not only offer beautiful ski slopes, but also many other great activities, such as snowshoeing or tobogganing.

Correct heating and ventilation

Switching off the heating for a long period of time and then heating it up again consumes a lot of energy and is therefore not recommended. Instead, it is sufficient to turn it down just a little. Turning the heating up to maximum temperature causes immense energy consumption and should therefore be avoided. When heating, however, you should not ventilate either, as this also wastes energy by heating "out of the window". Although cold temperatures are not exactly an invitation to ventilate, this should nevertheless be done two to four times a day for five to ten minutes. This prevents mould and fresh air can never hurt.

Public transport before car

Long walks on early winter mornings are a wonderful enrichment for body and soul, but not everyone's cup of tea. For the sake of comfort and to combat the icy temperatures, people often forego the walk to the nearest bus stop and instead give way to the car. The problem here is self-explanatory and can be easily solved by buttoning up the winter jacket even tighter, putting on another layer and taking the walk to the next bus or train. A little cold kick also helps you wake up - and perhaps saves a coffee or two.

Of course, there are 1000 more tips on how to make your winter more sustainable - these are just ideas to get you started.