Not everyone can afford a new eco-home with all the bells and whistles; the good news is you can make your home greener by re-mortgaging your property; all you have to do is read the list below and make some small changes to your home and lifestyle that help the planet and your pocket. Net Zero is a realistic possibility, so now is the time to make responsible changes.
Change your Boiler
If you live on a large property, you properly have a conventional boiler with a cylinder tank; this heats up the water using gas from the mains. The alternative is a combination boiler which heats water up when it’s needed; these boilers are better for small homes and also use gas.
If you want to reduce your Co2 and make your home greener, then change your boiler to a biomass one. Biomass boilers burn sustainable fuel sources from trees and other organic compounds. The results are equal to conventional boilers but are less harmful to the planet.
Install Solar Roofing
There are a few things that put people off investing in solar panels historically. For one thing, they were very expensive; then there were efficiency issues; finally, solar panels simply didn’t look very attractive when they were installed on the roof of your home or business property.
Things have changed from even five years ago when some of these issues were still a reality. Solar roofing has since become more efficient, but it has also become more affordable and more attractive. Some solar roofing is flat and integrated, so it looks like a natural roof.
Install a Smart Meter
Making your home more green is about investing in the right way; it’s best to install a biomass boiler and some solar roofing, for example. That said, making your home greener is also about changing your lifestyle habits, something that is easier when you invest in a smart meter.
A smart meter is a device that you can order from your local energy company; sometimes, they are installed in your home, but other times they are an external device. A smart meter allows you to track your energy usage and make lifestyle changes; it also helps reduce your bills.
Switch Your Light Bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs have been used for decades to light up homes, but they require significant amounts of energy to heat the filament and produce the light. While many homes still use these light bulbs predominantly, more and more homes are switching to LED bulbs.
LED bulbs, sometimes called energy-saving bulbs, are lighter, brighter, and more cost-effective; importantly, they also reduce Co2 as well as your home’s energy bills. If you want to reduce your power bills and make your home substantially greener, then switch to LED light bulbs.
Install Proper Insulation
The trouble is heating! When it’s cold outside, you turn on the radiators which activate the gas in the boiler. This gas then creates Co2 that makes its way into the atmosphere, where it contributes to warming the planet and all of the issues that occur due to the Greenhouse Effect.
If you can’t afford to install a biomass boiler in the near future, you can always make sure your home is properly insulated, so the heat you generate isn’t wasted. Make sure you have proper wall insulation and hang heavy curtains in the winter to trap the heat in your front room.
Invest in Double Glazing
Along with insulation, it’s a good idea to invest in double glazing. The glass in your windows accounts for between 25-30% of energy lost from your home; that’s energy that could save you money and reduce Co2 in the atmosphere if it were trapped in the home and properly used.
When it comes to windows for your home, you have three options, single glazing, double glazing, or triple glazing. Of course, triple glazing is best because it provides better insulation, but double glazing is a nice balance between making your home greener on a budget.
Eco Cleaning Products
Everyone wants to live in a clean and comfortable home, but there’s no reason your comfort has to cost the earth. The reality is that conventional cleaning products that are bought cheaply at local supermarkets contain an abundance of chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
The chemicals in these products make their way into the waterways and earth, affecting the roots of crops and influencing the health of aquatic creatures. Eco cleaning products might cost a little more at the moment but buying them encourages the market to change overall.
