It has become more important than ever to take our environment in to consideration. If you are planning to convert your home in to an eco-friendly space, you have come to the right place to learn the best tips and tricks to get started!
Depending on budget, there are many small and simple steps that you can take to save energy. As your budget grows, so will your project. You will learn very quickly that saving the planet will also be saving your wallet!
Before you begin any form of renovation, use an online energy calculator to assess your current usage. This will help you to understand what could be cut back on and what effect it’ll have. Here are just a few examples which’ll help you to build the ultimate eco-friendly house:
Material Matters – A lot of material is used in your home and there really is no escaping this fact. However, the key to a successful eco-friendly house is all down to using natural, locally sourced materials. In situations where this is difficult to achieve, use a limited amount of material. This’ll not only cut down on costs but also prove that you are being as economically friendly as possible. For example, purchase a perspex kitchen splashback for your kitchen. The handy thing about doing this is the fact that the materials used are made to measure, meaning there is absolutely no waste of material. As well as this, your kitchen will have a new statement piece (you can choose from a variety of colours!).
Replace Old Appliances – Your old appliances such as fridges, stoves and boilers are likely to be wasting a lot of energy. Although this is a pricey venture, replacing them with energy saving alternatives will be a huge benefit when it comes to becoming more energy efficient in the home. If your budget doesn’t quite cut this, wrap your water heater in an insulating blanket to reduce the amount of wasted energy.
Insulation – You will be surprised to find out just how much energy can leak through your loft. Insulating these areas will reduce your homes energy consumption and cut your heating bills as a consistent temperature will be kept throughout your home.
Eco Paints – Did you know that traditional paints contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that emit into your homes atmosphere for 5 years after painting?! Look for paints that are water borne and plant based to avoid this.
Solar Powered Lights – This is perhaps one of the more obvious energy saving tactics but should not be overlooked! You can buy a variety of solar-powered lights, suitable for both indoors and outdoors. These are easy enough to find in home improvement stores. Combine these with solar panels and your homes carbon footprint can be reduced by 35,180 pounds.
Taking these factors in to consideration is a great way to start your journey to a eco-friendlier home!
