Modern homeowners are more conscious than ever before of the impact that their purchasing decisions have on the environment around them. If you’re planning a home improvement, then it might well be that these environmental concerns are what’s giving you a push – even if the financial incentives haven’t quite aligned.
But, more often than not, the green solution is the one that reduces the amount of energy that your home consumes – which in turn will reduce the amount that you spend month-to-month. Moreover, many of these green improvements will also bolster the value of your home, which makes them worth making even if you don’t have much of an interest in environmental matters.
So what steps might we take to make the home that little bit more eco-friendly?
Composting
Being able to grow your own food will reduce your food miles and give you more exacting control over what you eat. But even if you aren’t growing plants with a view to eating them, you’ll still need to fertilise. Fortunately, much of the food and garden waste we throw away might be used to generate compost.
Recycling Water Waste
The ‘greywater’ that you use to wash your hands doesn’t need to go straight down the drain – it can be used to water plants or flush your toilet. All you need to do is install a suitable system for water recycling.
Other, less radical changes can have a similarly substantial impacts. Low-flow toilets use far less water than their equivalents, often paying for themselves within a few years. The same goes for showerheads, which come in flow-limited varieties.
New Heating
The way that you generate heat depends a great deal on the boiler and radiators you’re using. Installing new radiators can often provide an aesthetic boon, but it might also mean less waste, and a more eco-friendly home overall.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are the ultimate eco-addition to a home. They require a substantial investment, but they will yield substantial amounts of energy over their lifespans. Modern photovoltaic cells are getting cheaper and more efficient – but you’ll need to pair them with a substantial wall-mounted battery to use the energy they generate after the sun goes in.
Double-glazing
Double glazing works in much the same way as wall insulation. A layer of inert gas is sandwiched between two glass panels. Heat is thereby prevented from being quickly transmitted from one side of the window to the other. Double-glazing only does its job effectively when the gas inside is intact – when it leaks, you’ll need to replace the panel.
