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Now that the world is becoming increasingly eco-conscious, it’s important that you are aware of your impact on the environment. Climate change is becoming one of the most important issues of the time, and consumers everywhere consider sustainability to be one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing to buy from a brand. The methods and materials that worked for homeowners in the past no longer help current homeowners. Eco-friendly home design is the key trend for the future.
Being aware of all the ways in which the design of your home could save energy is one of the best things you can do for the planet. Furthermore, these eco-friendly designs could actually save you a lot of money in the long run, so you can protect the Earth and your wallet at the same time. By putting in the effort to create a green home with sustainable and eco-friendly home design, you will be helping future generations and spread awareness about looking after the environment.
Get The Best Insulation
Insulating your property properly is without a doubt one the best things you can do to preserve energy. Heating and cooling your home contributes to around 50% of your home’s energy consumption and emissions. If your insulation is not installed properly, you could be wasting energy. Gaps in the insulation that occur around windows, doors and ductwork allow air to leak out of your home, meaning that the energy used to heat your home is wasted. Well-fitted insulation will reduce your energy consumption and your energy bill by a huge margin. For extra sustainability, ensure that your insulation is made from sustainable materials, like recycled denim.
Check For Energy-Efficiency
Before you fit your home with appliances, you should be checking the labels on all of the appliances. This works for every single thing that you need to plug into the mains – freezers, toasters, stoves, refrigerators, stand mixers and more. Everything that you need to plug in should have an energy efficiency marker. The energy efficiency symbol is different in every country, so you should check governmental websites to find yours. Appliances that have a high energy-efficiency rating can preserve lots of energy and money in the long run, without compromising high performance. Some appliances even connect up to phone apps, so you can use technology to become more eco-friendly by monitoring your energy use.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
The most important mantra when it comes to creating an eco-friendly home is ‘reduce, reuse, recycle.’ Keep this in mind whenever you’re making home improvements. For example, you can reduce the amount of materials and appliances that you use in your home in order to conserve energy and reduce waste. If there are any old materials that you could reuse in DIY improvement projects, make sure that you reuse them. You should also ensure that old materials that don’t get used get recycled whenever possible, and you could also use recycled materials when you’re making home improvements. There is a huge market for recycled glass, aluminium, tile, lumber and plastic.
Install Solar Panels
Although installing solar panels onto your home can be time-consuming and expensive, in the long run you will definitely make your money back. In fact, it is an investment worth every penny, because you will be sure to get it back on your energy bills. It is worth consulting with an expert, as your location will determine how much energy you can collect. You could potentially run your home on renewable energy, which is great in terms of energy usage and is also amazing for your wallet. In your country, there may also be a government grant or tax break available for you if you install solar panels.
Eco-Friendly Lighting
Lighting is also a significant contributor to the amount of energy that your household uses. By keeping on top of your energy, you can prevent wasted energy. There are many ways in which you can limit the amount of energy you waste via lighting. For example, you could get lights which operate on a timer, meaning that they will go off if they don’t sense movement in the room. This will help you make sure lights are not being left on overnight. You should also use LED or CFL light bulbs, as they use less energy.
Preserve As Much Water As Possible
Water wastage is one of the major things that puts the Earth at risk. So much water is wasted when we take long showers, flush the toilet and much more. Installing water conserving fixtures into your home is one of the best ways to help conserve water in your home. By getting low-flow taps, toilets and showerheads you could cut down your water costs dramatically, and make your home much more eco-friendly. You should also consider installing a rainwater harvesting system or a tankless water heater in order to preserve water.
Get Double Glazing
Just like insulation can prevent precious energy from escaping your home, installing energy-efficient double glazing can also prevent you from wasting energy. Make sure to double check the rating with the provider, so that you can install windows with a high efficiency rating. This will prevent energy from escaping your home, so you can cut down on your energy bills and also reduce how much energy is wasted.
Use Sustainable Materials
The push for sustainability has affected all walks of life. Many consumers now look at the sustainability credentials of any brand before buying from them, whether they’re buying homeware, building materials, clothes, makeup, jewellery, skincare and much more. When buying materials for building your home, you should ensure that it is coming from a source that is as sustainable as possible. Recycled lumber, plastic and glass are great to use, as well as natural products such as bamboo, cork or linoleum. This means you can build your dream home without harming the planet.
When you’re decorating your home, you should also pick sustainable materials. Using organic paint is better than using non-organic, as it aims to reduce the amount of toxins that end up in the environment. Finding some sustainable and eco-friendly luxury homeware is also a good idea to add the finishing touches to your sustainable and eco-friendly green home.
