How to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

With each passing season, resource depletion and global warming becomes more terrifyingly real.  Our planet’s future depends on the changes that we humans make – which is why it’s vital that we evaluate the eco-friendliness of our houses.

In recent years, environmental researchers have proven that domestic carbon emissions and energy wastage as significant contributors to the eco-crisis. If you want to halt the rate of climate change at its source, then these are the easy changes you can make to your home which will reduce your household’s environmental footprint.

We’ve all heard about solar homes – but did you know that solar panels are becoming an ever more economical and accessible design choice in the current home-building market? 

Previously, only the wealthiest homeowners could afford to install these shiny black panels atop their roofs – while as of 2018, you’ll be able to choose the panelling that suits your home’s needs, and most importantly, your budget.

Solar panelsdraw energy from natural sunlight and convert it into power. Depending on how many solar panels you have and how large they are, you may be able to power your entire home without depending on manmade electricity.

Being environmentally conscious doesn’t just mean large-scale alterations to the home; making seemingly-microlevel changes can have just as much impact. For instance, switching your current tap fittings out for motion-sensor models will allow you to save a massive amount of water in the long-term by shutting off water flow whenever your hands aren’t near. Motion-sensor taps are safe and convenient for the very old and very young, too.

Another micro-level change that guarantees a significant impact is ensuring that your house is fully furnished with products that align with your larger eco-friendly ethos.

After all, your solar panelling won’t match with supermarket-bought plastic bags that take hundreds of years to degrade.

It’s easy to make the transition to reusable cloth bags to carry your groceries, or to look for gentler, more eco-friendly cleaning products to use for your dishes and laundry. The best news is that these eco-friendly resources are becoming increasingly popular, meaning that you’ll get to choose from many different options for outfitting your eco-friendly house.

You can also fill your home with literal green products – houseplants.

Decorating your home with potted plants or installing a green wall add a lovely aesthetic touch.

In addition to this, leafy plants have also been proven to absorb the kinds of nasty chemical compounds which would otherwise wheedle their way into our lungs.

An excellent way to ensure your family’s efficient energy use is to correctly insulate your home.

Heat can quickly escape out of draughty floorboards and window panes, so stopping all gaps and stuffing your walls and attic spaces with batting will help to keep heat inside.

Also, remember to check your window frames – double-glazed wooden frames are a far superior option to synthetic frames when it comes to retaining heat, and a set of thick drapes or curtains will further aid your energy-saving mission during colder months.

Upgrading your appliances from energy-hungry, old-fashioned models to sleek, energy-efficient ones is a straightforward, satisfying means of reducing wastage in the home. From smaller kitchen appliances like electric kettles to larger household items like boilers and fireplaces, always look for the sustainable energy-star rating or an equivalent score.