Do you want to renovate your home sustainably? If so then this is the guide for you. Here you will find out what changes you can make today, so you can do your bit for the environment.
Insulate your Home
This is quite possibly one of the most important things you can do if you want to lower your energy bills. It will also help you to have less of an impact on the planet. There are a lot of different types of insulation you can install here and a lot of your choices will come down to the type of property you live in. You have cavity wall insulation, which if your home was built before 1990, there’s a chance you won’t have anything like this. With around a third of heat loss escaping through the walls, it’s so important that you consider things like this. You also have floor insulation too. If you live on the ground floor and your space is unheated then you may find that it is worth insulating the floors in your home. You can insulate if you have a concrete floor or if you have a timber one, so make sure that you keep this in mind.
Next, you have the roof. Uninsulated homes tend to lose a quarter of the total heat through the roof. This is more expensive to insulate than your cavity walls but it is still a good idea for you to get this done if you can. Insulating pipes is another thing you can do, along with draught-proofing. Draught-proofing your home could help you to lower your carbon footprint and it could also have a major impact on your energy bills. This means if you can block any gaps that let cold air in, you won’t have to spend as much heating your home.
Buy Reclaimed Furniture
Buying furniture second-hand is a very good way for you to shop sustainably. Using salvaged wood for your flooring or even for your kitchen cabinets means that less ends up being burnt and then put in the landfill. At the end of the day, this also lessens the impact of logging, which is so important. If you don’t know where to start then it is entirely possible for you to buy a reclaimed wood dining table online. When you do, you will be able to have the perfect product for your home, delivered right to your door.
Water-Saving Taps
Installing a water-efficient tap or shower is a great way for you to reduce your general water use. If you cannot afford to replace all of your sanitaryware then one thing you can do is opt for an aerating tap. This combines air with the water you use so you can use less but ultimately, you won’t notice a difference. This is a great way for you to do your bit for the environment and it may even increase the value of your home. You can also invest in low-flow showerheads too, which is a great bathroom upgrade if you have a big family as you will use more water than you might realize.
Swap your Traditional Bulbs for LED
Swapping your traditional bulbs for LED alternatives is a great way for you to save on your energy bills. It also means you will have a more sustainable form of power in your home. Traditional bulbs are very inefficient and this means that they only convert around 5% of the power that they use to light up your home. As lighting makes up around 10% of your bills, it is safe to say that it’s easy to see how much of a difference this could make overall.
Use Eco-Friendly Paint
If you want to step things up to that next level then it’s a good idea for you to use eco-friendly paint. When it comes to protecting the environment, one thing to take note of is that not all paints are created equally. Several brands on the market are created in this day and age and they do not contain any VOCs. This is the toxic chemical that is added to a lot of paint to make them more stable. If you want to avoid using things like this then one thing you can do is invest in eco-friendly paint. If you prefer wallpaper to paint then this is also great. You can find wallpapers that offer FSC-certified paper. If you choose something like this then it means that the paper comes from forests that are well-managed.
Get a Heat Pump
Heat pumps are a very low-carbon alternative when you compare them to gas heating. While installing something like this is expensive, you have to know that it could save you a small fortune. The government is now offering grants so you can invest in low-carbon heating systems. This means if you decide to take the plunge, you can get a major discount here.
Install a Green Roof
Adding a green roof on your shed, or your bike storage area is a great way for you to do your bit for the environment. It can also give you a huge range of benefits. One thing to take note of here is that it could even improve the air quality while helping rainwater to run off.
Install some Sun Tunnels
If you know that there are some parts of your home which are dull and gloomy then there is no need for you to increase your carbon footprint by simply putting up more lights. One way for you to work around this would be for you to put up a sun tunnel. These are light tubes that help to bring natural daylight into dark rooms. This makes them a great investment as you can put them in your bathrooms, hallway and even in your kitchen. If you put them anywhere you feel as though you could benefit from more light then this will help you a lot later down the line so be mindful of this if you can.
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