6 ways to make your home more eco-friendly
Having an eco-friendly home is not just better for the environment, it could also make massive cuts to your bills each year. You don’t need to spend a lot to make a difference. Little changes in the home can make a big impact to your carbon footprint. Here are 6 ways to make your home more eco-friendly.
Insulate
Making sure you have proper insulation in your roof and walls goes a long way when it comes to keeping heat inside your home. Around 25% of heat is lost through the roof, and 35% is lost through the walls. If reinsulating your home is not possible, thermal lined wallpaper is a cost-effective way of keeping heat in.
The remaining 40% of heat is lost through doors, windows and the floor. Laying carpets, ensuring you have adequate underlay under laminate flooring and using rugs can help you have a warmer home for longer. Double glazing and making sure door seals are intact can make windows and doors more efficient. This can be costly, so a quick win is to use thermal curtains and draft excluders.
Boilers and radiators
Replacing broken or outdated goods with eco-friendly versions will go a long way to reducing your bills, and your carbon footprint. It is recommended that you change your boiler every 10 years. If you have an older boiler, consider upgrading to a newer combi boiler. It will be more efficient and cheaper to run.
Check your thermostats to see if they are set too high. You can use a timer, so your boiler is only working when you need it to and not heating an empty house.
Bleed your radiators to make sure they are fully effective. Fitting radiator reflectors to traditional radiators can send 95% of wasted heat back into your room. Install eco-friendly smart radiators, these can be fully controlled by an app and will even switch off automatically if they detect an open window. They can include voice tech and feature geolocation technology, so your heating will turn off or on when you are a set distance away.
Heat control systems
Consider installing a smart heat control system. With this technology you can control the heat in your home from your smartphone. This way you only use heat when necessary and never heat an empty home. If it is not possible to install one of these systems, make sure you check your thermostat if you are going out for the evening or going away.
Cleaner living
Cleaning products, air fresheners and laundry products are jam packed full of nasty gases. Consider opting for eco-friendly, toxic free versions. Laundry eggs receive rave reviews and contain no toxins, last longer and help to reduce plastic.
Energy saving options
Something as simple as switching to energy saving lightbulbs uses less energy, and they last longer than normal bulbs.
When replacing white goods opt for newer, more energy efficient models. All new appliances now feature an energy rating, so use this as a guide.
Buy a houseplant
Certain types of house plants are a great natural way to remove a group of toxic gases, called volatile organic toxins, from the air. When inhaled in large amounts, these toxins can cause dizziness, allergic reactions and asthma. Long term this could lead to liver and kidney damage, and even cancer.
One of the biggest air purifiers is the humble bromeliad. This family of plants comes in many shapes and sizes and can remove up to 80% of nasties from the air. And they look pretty, too!
Some home improvements may impact your home insurance, so always check your policy to see if they are covered. Contact A-Plan today for more information.