Earth Day: How to make your home more Sustainable
We love finding the perfect home for all our clients but the earth of course is home to us all, so for our blog today we are going to share some tips on how to make your property more sustainable.
A property that is sustainable is an efficient home that is built or refurbished in a way that respects resources, optimizes energy and water use and will last longer due to quality systems. Usually a sustainable home makes use of low-impact, high performance materials. Due to the high quality materials, they last longer and therefore create less waste.
With newbuild properties we see that most properties are energy efficient and often come with smart meters or even solar panels for green energy. But, it is also possible to make your current property more sustainable.
Insulation
One of the easiest ways to make a property sustainable is to insulate walls, ceiling and underfloor to aid heating and save on energy costs. If possible, you could also insulate externally to minimise disruption.
Windows
Windows account for 50% or more of lost energy, so once you have installed new windows you will be likely to notice a big difference. By installing double glazed windows or even thermal backed curtains, your property will become more energy efficient and you will have less outside noise inside.
Choose the right appliances
If possible, select appliances that have high energy efficiency ratings. Appliances that are energy efficient have less running costs. You can also make smaller changes by swapping regular light bulbs for eco bulbs.
Besides the house itself, you can also make changes in your interior to make it more sustainable. For example by buying furniture that is eco friendly, which can range from being made of recycled materials to being manufactured in a sustainable way. In addition, furniture that is made from natural materials often also is more sustainable.
Recycling is always key, whether that is with regular household waste, or by choosing vintage furniture. It is also possible to rent furniture, which could be a great option to save on costs but still have a nice, good quality interior. It also reduces waste because instead of buying a cheap item and throwing it away, you can rent a high quality piece that will last longer.
In addition, there are also many eco friendly brands that range from selling tableware made of recycled smartphones, to furniture made of ocean plastic and natural paint brands made without toxic chemicals and chemical waste. If you are considering making your interior more sustainable and eco-friendly, a quick google search will give you plenty of great options.