Do you feel as though your home isn’t as energy efficient as it could be then now is the time for you to do something about that. This guide will show you what steps you can take to upgrade your home today, so you can take a step in the right direction.
Install Cavity Wall Insulation
The first thing you need to do is try and install some cavity wall insulation. If you know that your home has cavity walls that seem to be in good condition then adding a bit of insulation between the gaps will help you to cut down on your general heating cost. It will also help you to save a huge amount of carbon from hitting the environment, which is so important. If you have never installed cavity wall insulation before, it’s best to hire a professional who can do it for you.
Insulate your Loft
If you want to keep your home warmer for longer then one of the best things you can do would be for you to insulate your loft. Consider alternatives to the traditional choices such as fiberglass, and opt for sheep wool or even recycled glass bottles. If you can do this, you will soon find that the options are just as effective, but you can save tonnes of carbon from hitting the atmosphere, so keep that in mind.
Photovoltaic Solar Panels
Another thing to do would be for you to opt for photovoltaic solar panels. Even when the weather outside is cloudy, solar panels such as this can help you to generate electricity from sunlight. This helps you to power your home. You may also find that you can sell any extra electricity that you might have to the government. Of course, the estimated amount of carbon you can save by investing in solar panels is astonishing, and it is also a much better way for you to provide your home with a reliable amount of energy. If you want to take things to that next level then another thing to do would be for you to opt for a hot water solar panel. The great thing about doing this is that you will have the energy from the sun, heat your shower and baths for you. This gives you the chance to reduce the energy you need to power your boiler, which is a fantastic backup if you feel as though sunlight is low.
Triple-Glazing
Triple-glazing is becoming the standard and it is one of the best ways for you to ensure that your home stays warm. When investing in new windows, you may find it beneficial to invest in new doors too. If you can do this then you will soon find that you can reduce both emissions and cost with ease.
Turn Off Appliances
If you are guilty of leaving your appliances on standby then this is something that has to change. Leaving things on standby uses a huge amount of electricity and it is the last thing you need. A lot of people think that leaving the TV on or even their phone charger plugged in overnight is not going to make a difference but when you add this up over a lot of different appliances you will soon find that it adds up. If you have a habit of leaving things on then this is understandable but you can work around this by simply setting a smart plug to turn off your devices for you. You can make it so that they turn off automatically when you go to bed, and turn on when you enter the room. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to get the result you are going for and that you don’t have to worry about things as much.
Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
While there are a few types that you can choose from here, LED-saving bulbs are the newest and the most efficient overall. They are more expensive sometimes but they can reach full brightness a lot faster. They can also last for a very long time which is great, to say the least. If you have not thought about investing in energy-efficient light bulbs before then one thing you should take note of is that they can be expensive upfront. With that being said, when you have been able to pay out for them, you will be able to make your money back in no time, which is great, to say the least.
Get a Heat Pump
If you haven’t done so already then you need to get an air-source heat pump. This outdoor addition is one of the best ways for you to power your house if you are off the grid. The best thing about heat pumps such as this is that they can convert the temperature of the air into heat so you can power your radiators as well as your underfloor system. You will only use a small amount of electricity in the process too which is great, to say the least.
Grow your Vegetables
A lot of vegetables that end up on the shelves at supermarkets have traveled the world on trains, lorries, planes and even boats. This journey emits a lot of carbon and so does industrial farming. Any vegetables that you can grow at home avoid all of these emissions which is great, to say the least. If you can look into things such as this then you may find that you can do your bit for the environment and make your home energy efficient while feeling confident that you are limiting the amount of carbon that gets released into the environment. If you have never grown your vegetables before then you need to try and look into this if you can. Find out what you can do to make your compost the best it can be for the veg you are growing, so you can make your whole process much more efficient.
Reduce Air Travel
Another thing you can do for the environment would be for you to reduce air travel where you can. Your carbon footprint of single-haul flights can sometimes be unavoidable, but if you can take the train or even a coach where possible then this will help you out a lot in the future. You may even find that in some instances, you can save money too, which is great, to say the least.
Get a Turbine
If you have the option of getting a wind turbine then this is great. You can get any size turbine you want, right down to household options. If you have a bit of land that surrounds your home and you experience high winds, for example, if you live on the coast, then you could benefit from getting a wind turbine. You may even find that in some instances you can produce enough energy to power your entire home which is great, to say the least. Like other renewables, you can easily use them alongside the system you have now.
Recycle
Recycling is so important. It’s one of the best and simplest eco-friendly habits to make your home energy efficient you could hope to adopt as well. If you have things around the home then you can easily use these creatively so you can make use of your local recycling collections. Either way, if you can take the time to find out what you can and what you cannot recycle then this will help you out a lot. Not every location will have the same rules when it comes to recycling, so it’s wise for you to look into the rules for your area so you can make a good choice regarding the environment.
Local Food
Just like home-grown food, you can easily save carbon by buying food locally. If you can buy locally then your goodwill goes on a much shorter journey from the farm to the table. On top of this, you may find that the flavor packs a bigger punch too. You can find a large range of prices and items at farm stalls, and failing this, you can even go to specialist shops. Many regions will have a box delivery service you can take advantage of as well so make sure that you look into options such as this as they could save you a small fortune while helping you to do your bit for the environment.
Of course, there are many things that you can do to help the environment and make your home energy efficient and if you take steps to try and make a change today then you will soon find that you can make a major difference. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a change and you also don’t have to worry about how you are going to overhaul your lifestyle either. Every change you can make will add up, so make sure that you take steps to do your bit today as it may inspire a change across your entire household, and eventually, your local neighbourhood.
