Owning and living in an eco-home is the first step to a greener future and it is the direction many households are heading in. There is no denying that our planet is starting to react negatively to human activity and we all need to take a step in a cleaner direction to reduce our carbon footprint. Many new homes are built with the environment in mind, but it falls on the homeowner to make any improvements. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to make our new or older homes more eco-friendly. The process may cost you, but it will save you money over the long-term while protecting our planet. To help you get started, here are 7 things you need to do to make your home eco-friendly.
Install Plenty of Insulation
A poorly insulated home will be an expensive home to run, especially if you live in an area that has a relatively cold climate. When a home has little to no insulation, heat can easily escape. If your home doesn’t retain heat, then you will pay more money to continuously warm it up. To decrease the cost of your heating bills, you should start with installing insulation in the roof, floor, doors, windows, and walls. Some areas will be harder to insulate than others, so don’t be afraid to ask for professional help.
Create an Eco-Friendly Garden
Upgrading your garden in order to make it more eco-friendly will make your outdoor space look fantastic while supporting the nature that exists around you. Plants, shelter, feeding tables, trees, and other greenery can create a suitable environment for the local wildlife. Ecoscape UK can provide you with eco-friendly materials for decked areas. They boast the largest collection of decking, cladding, fencing, and balustrade systems on the market. If you’re interested, you can order Ecoscape samples.
Replace Your Old Windows
Replacing your older windows for a more economical variety will provide homeowners with similar benefits to installing insulation. Over 10% of the energy in a home can be lost through thin windows, so they need to perform well. New windows can boost the appearance of your home. If you have single-glazed windows, replacing them with double- or triple-glazed windows will reduce heat transfer. Considering a product that uses a low-conductivity gas or is reflective is also highly recommended.
Invest in Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is often referred to as clean energy. This energy source is sustainable because it doesn’t run out, as it often comes from natural sources or processes that are continuously replenished. There will always be wind blowing and the sun will always shine. The weather and time of day can affect their availability, but they will always exist. Investing in renewable energy can be expensive, but it will be worthwhile. For your home, solar panels, wind turbines, and air source heat pumps are some good examples.
Reclaim and Reuse Building Materials
If you are taking on a renovation project, you want to add some extra space to your home, or you want to remove something that has seen better days, then you should consider reclaiming and reusing building materials. Directing demolition and construction materials away from the landfill will save money and is much better for the environment. You can source reclaimed materials directly from a demolition or remodelling site. Materials can be dismantled carefully to be sold on and can be more fit for purpose.
Purchase Eco-Friendly Finishes
When it comes to decorating your home, using eco-friendly finishes is advisable. You will undoubtedly use a lot of paint to finish off your home. Fortunately, there are many green products that you can use to reduce the impact that your decorating has on the environment. Most eco-friendly paint uses plant resins and oils to form the solution and they’re water-soluble. The pigments will come from plant dyes or minerals. You can also purchase eco-friendly wood varnishes, waxes, and sustainable wallpapers.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Recycling is key to helping the planet and reduces the rate of production of environmentally-damaging materials, like plastic. You can recycle many resources in a variety of ways. You can collect rainfall and recycle water. You can build a compost heap for your garden to recycle food waste. Every home will have recycling bins, but each council will have different rules, so make sure you do your research. You can reduce your general waste by being creative and making smart choices while grocery shopping.
Making most of these eco-home improvements will require time and money, but they offer many present and future benefits to the homeowner and the environment. Many of these alterations will improve the appearance of the home, whereas others won’t be noticeable. Whether they’re visible or not, they’re all desirable features that will increase the value of your home when you’re ready to sell.
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