Sustainability is one of the biggest buzzwords that has been circulating over recent years, particularly as the world has become increasingly more eco-conscious. But what exactly does this mean? Sustainability refers to meeting your needs without harming the needs of future generations, as well as avoiding the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. Managing sustainability across the world starts in the home. It requires you to make environmentally conscious choices about the way you live your life and perform your usual day to day tasks.
Most of us wish to make our homes more sustainable, but the idea of costly alterations and building work deters many people from thinking about making positive changes. But what if there were ways you could achieve a sustainable home without paying over the odds? In fact, you can actually transform your home into an eco-friendly abode and save yourself money in the long run, so doing your bit for the environment while reducing your outgoing is more achievable than you may have first thought. Here are some ways in which you can help.
Maintain your Boiler
Did you know that 55% of your annual energy bills in the UK are directly linked to heating? One of the best ways to reduce this is to maintain your boiler regularly. This is easy to do, therefore there should be no excuse. You can prevent paying extortionate bills by lowering the temperature setting. Newer boilers are more energy efficient than the old styles as they heat water more efficiently, meaning they use less gas to do the same job, saving you energy and money. In most cases, if you replace an older boiler, over the years you will pay for the outlay in the savings you make on utility bills.
Recycle
Recycling is one of the easiest ways to reduce your overall waste, as well as helping the environment in a multitude of ways. You can repair broken tables and chairs quite easily, instead of throwing them away, or perhaps you could buy some second-hand furniture for your home. Purchasing second-hand goods doesn’t always mean unsalvageable rubbish, as you’re helping both the environment and your wallet.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are a great addition to your home, particularly for an eco-friendly homeowner. Luckily, the cost of solar power has dramatically dropped over recent years due to growing demand and efficiency. If you are unsure about whether renewable energy is right for you in your home make sure you research the advantages and disadvantages thoroughly before you make a decision.
Smart Lighting
Whatever alterations you are considering for your home, make sure you install the most efficient lighting. Older lighting fixtures and incandescent lightbulbs require more energy than the newer features available in LED bulbs and fluorescent lighting.
Smart lighting works in the same way as smart heating and can be monitored and controlled easily from the touch of a button on your iPhone. This means you no longer have to worry about unnecessary extortionate energy waste from your lightbulbs. Another emerging feature is sensor lights. This trend, amongst other eco-friendly features, is becoming particularly popular within the buy to let market. UK property company RW Invest are using this type of lighting in their properties, attracting eco-conscious tenants as this allows lighting to turn off automatically when you leave a room.
