Most people still live in draughty homes built before humanity appreciated the impact of large scale energy consumption. But that’s about to change. With some creativity, financial plan, and good ideas, you can make your home more eco-friendly, and save thousands of dollars on bills.
The best strategy is to start small and improve your knowledge as you make progress. Don’t set the bar too high; begin by making lifestyle changes, and transition to big, costlier projects that can save money in the long run. Ready to get started?
Hire The right Help
No matter what you want to do at home, it is always better to hire locally than to outsource. When you outsource, traveling cause more pollution. For instance, if you want to move, hire the best Preston removal company to help you.
Similarly, if you want to build or renovate, local contractors are better because they can recycle rather than adding more material to landfill. Hiring locally also supports local businesses, developing the economy.
Invest In Energy-Efficient Bulbs
Your lighting system is the perfect place to start. Energy efficient lighting bulbs have been around for more than a decade, but few people embraced the idea. In the long run, it makes sense to switch.
Energy efficient bulbs consume less electricity and last longer. Therefore, you will pay smaller bills and save the cost of replacing them. Currently, there are great models and options, like the dimmable ones that ensure you don’t compromise on functionality and style.
Monitor Your Appliances
Always look at appliances that are often left on standby and begin switching them off, particularly at night. The best way to reduce your utility bills is by turning things off. Therefore, turn off lights or game consoles whenever you’re not using.
In the US, approximately 25% of domestic energy consumption is utilized by appliances in idle power mode, while in the UK is close to 10%. That means these appliances can consume electricity generated by 50 large power plants and costs over 19 billion dollars bills annually.
If appliances on standby, sleep or idle mode were all switched off, they would save enough energy to close several entire power stations. Alternatively, you can use a standby saving gadget that makes it easy to switch off appliances and devices.
Install Solar Panels
Any eco-home is incomplete without solar panels. Getting clean energy is your priority, but you can also sell the surplus back to the grid. Therefore, solar panels are definitely a long term investment.
Investing in large solar panels means it will take more time for you to break even. But keep in mind that this is not just for money- it’s an incredible opportunity to finally be eco-friendly.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
If you thought eco-friendly is only limited to lowering energy bills, think again. Using harmful soaps and detergents to clean also destroys the environment. When you discard them, you’re just putting the harmful chemicals back into the water supply or the soil.
Fortunately, you don’t have to use them in most cases. Most cleaning tasks at home can be accomplished using environmental-friendly products like citric acid and vinegar from fruits, and bicarbonate derived from soda.
Invest In Great Insulation
An eco-friendly home uses as little energy as possible. And investing in great insulation is the best way to achieve this. Insulation assists in holding the heat, so you don’t need to burn energy to keep your home warm.
There are multiples places that need insulation, particularly the roof and within walls. It can also be prudent to double glaze all windows. In addition, cover any exposed wooden floors.
Make Your Own Compost
Make use of your leftover food and kitchen scraps by turning them into compost. It may look simple but you’ll be surprised how much food can make great compost that you can use to improve your backyard garden. So buy a compost bin, put it in your garden and fill it with your food waste.
Save Water
Being truly eco-friendly won’t be a holistic approach without saving water. To do that, first, start by fixing any leaks. Secondly, make lifestyle changes that save water.
For example, don’t run the tap when shaving, or brushing your teeth. It is equally important to have a low-flow meter shower head installed. These strategies can save close to 160,000 liters or about 725 gallons of water for a family of four. You can even go with bamboo toilet paper as a water substitute for cleaning purposes, click here to learn more.
Making your home eco-friendly starts small. You don’t need to break the bank. Begin with simple lifestyle changes that save water, food, and energy, then gradually move to other products.
