In recent years there has been a shift towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle, from people recycling more, reducing their meat intake, buying secondhand clothing, and cutting out plastic from everyday use. However, people are now looking for ways to make their homes more eco-friendly too.
Making changes around the house not only gives your home a fresh update but can also be beneficial in helping cut down carbon emissions and reducing your overall energy costs. If it’s something you have been considering but you are not sure how to go about making your home more eco-friendly, this post will give you some tips and inspiration.
Insulation
One quick and easy way to cut carbon emissions is by making sure your home is well insulated. If your home is insulated properly, then it helps retain heat throughout the winter months while also keeping the costs of heating and cooling your home throughout the rest of the year. Take inspiration from some UK eco-friendly homes such as Twoflowers Croft in Scotland which uses natural sheep’s wool.
Sheep’s wool is fire retardant and can keep your home warm in those cold months. This means you won’t have to adjust your heating system as often and will help save energy and money in the long run. Other materials you can use to insulate the home include cotton, icynene, polystyrene, and cellulose.
Solar panels
Fossil fuel-generated electricity is extremely bad for the environment which is why you should consider installing solar panels on your roof. It’s a green and renewable energy source which is much more beneficial for the environment. There are numerous benefits to solar power; it produces no air pollution, no water pollution, and it’s carbon-free to name a few!
Another benefit of solar power is that it can save you money each month on your electricity bill. Just by installing rooftop solar panels, you could end up saving 95% of your electricity costs. While the initial cost of installing solar power can be high, there are government schemes and subsidies available. Solar panel systems can also last for 25+ years with little maintenance and are a great way to help make your house an eco-home.
Water
Although you may not realise it, here in the UK we are extremely wasteful with our water. The average toilet can use up to nine litres of water with every flush, and a simple solution to that is installing a hippo water bag in the cistern. This can help save up to around three litres of water when someone flushes the loo.
Another change you can make around the home when it comes to saving on the water is making use of the high rainfall we experience. If you install a rainwater tank in your garden, it allows you to collect rainwater that can be used elsewhere, like watering your garden. A rainwater tank works by connecting it to your home’s guttering system.
These are just three ways that you can help turn your house into an eco-friendly home. Have you made any of these changes to your home? Let me know in the comments below!
