Today – 5 ways to make a house more eco friendly
It’s always on my mind that I should have a more eco friendly home and it’s time we actually took some steps towards making that happen.
Ways to make a house more eco friendly
I think it would be great if we could commit to these 5 changes over the next 2 years. Some are small and relatively inexpensive, some are bigger and more expensive. All of them are good steps in the right direction.
Water butts
For less than £30 you can get a brilliant water butt and rain diverter kit that channels all the rainwater that falls on the roof of your home directly into it. You can then use this for watering the garden. It both saves on your water bill and again uses only natural resources.
Solar panels
Solar panels have the dual benefit of saving you and money and benefitting the environment. Because they harness the sun’s energy to create electricity they can save you hundreds of pound on electricity bills. Because the sun is a renewable energy source it spares the use of materials like coal and oil which are being used up too fast and are not renewable.
Wooden flooring
Wood is also a renewable resource and old wooden floors can easily be recycled too, hence lots of environmental benefits. Engineered Wood Flooring comes with at least a ten-year warranty which make it a really sound investment too.
Oak Flooring Suppliers – Flooring Cottage says
…wood floors are good for the environment because they are sustainable. Managed forests are the places from where this wood is sourced and hence, it is now possible to make your floors look ravishing but not at the expense of the environment.
Draught excluding
Heating our homes is such a massive energy drain and can be reduced if we try harder to eliminate drafts. Loft insulation and double glazing are expensive ways of tackling these problems initially (but reap their rewards long term.) You can also consider going with a pole barn roof insulation which is a cheaper solution and will also bring results in the future.Short term solutions such as draught excluding tape around the windows really help. Or you could make your own draught excluding snake, just stuff an old pair of tights like I did here to stop the warmth seeping out under your door.
Replacing our light bulbs with LED light bulbs.
LEDs last up to 35 times longer than a regular bulb and are cool to the touch so don’t use much energy at all. So you will save energy and money in the long term as well as reducing consumption and waste. LED bulbs are initially more expensive but a worthwhile investment on so many levels.
So 5 ways to make a house more eco friendly and none of them complicated really and all of them benefit your budget as well as the environment.
These are some awesome tips, great post! Solar Panels are a great idea another thing you could add to that to help save some money and the planet would be investing in a metal roof! They help save tons on heating and cooling expenses!
Great advice about LED light bulbs. In my country LED lights are now replacing ordinary light bulbs which I think is a good transition and cost less than previous expenses. Nice article and will recommend this to some of my friends.
Insulation acts as a barrier to heat loss and heat gain, particularly in roofs and ceilings, walls and floors.
Home insulation will reduce your energy bills and the costs of cooling and heating your home.
Insulating your home also has cost benefits to you as homeowner. With added insulation your home will become much more energy efficient. Insulation will keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This will reduce the amount of heating and cooling appliances you need to use to keep your home comfortable.
Insulating can cut the cost of heating and cooling by over 40%. Insulating the ceiling of a house has the potential to save 20-30% on heating and cooling bills. Heating and air conditioning units don’t have to run as hard or as long to achieve the desired temperature in the building.
Great tips Becky. I love your little insulation snake! Do you have solar panels on your roof? How much money are you saving from it?
Most new homes come equipped with lots of storage. Older homes, on the other hand, tend to lack even some of the basic storage options, such as a coat or linen closet. If you lack the space to expand closets or other storage spaces or build new ones, consider redesigning the spaces you do have.
Insulation assists greatly in keeping heat within a building in winter and slowing the flow of heat into the building in summer. An insulated building will therefore be warmer in winter and cooler in summer, creating a more comfortable environment all year round.
Insulation acts as a barrier to heat loss and heat gain, particularly in roofs and ceilings, walls and floors.
Another benefit of insulating your home is a reduced environmental impact. With an insulated home you will be using less energy for heating and cooling your home.
Adding insulation to your home is a great way to increase the comfort of your living environment. Adding home insulation to an existing home will regulate the temperature, making your living environment more enjoyable, especially in places of extreme weather.
Insulating can cut the cost of heating and cooling by over 40%. Insulating the ceiling of a house has the potential to save 20-30% on heating and cooling bills. Heating and air conditioning units don’t have to run as hard or as long to achieve the desired temperature in the building.