8 Ways to Make Your Home More Green – Griggs Homes
8 Ways to Make Your Home More Green
In an increasingly environmentally-conscious world, there are many efforts we could be making to make our homes greener. From simple actions, to implementing new structures, there are multiple ways to become more eco-friendly at home and support a more sustainable lifestyle.
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1. Install a Smart Metre
How we heat our homes is not always intuitive. In the colder months, especially, it is easy to lose track of your heating and leave it on for many additional hours. This is one of the biggest sources of energy consumption in the home.
To be more green around the house, smart Metres can be programmed so that the heating is only on for certain hours of the day such as when returning from work or when waking up on a cold morning. Not only is this great for controlling your carbon footprint, it can be an invaluable tool for homeowners and renters looking to manage their energy bills.
2. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
More than ever before, there is a wide array of cleaning and hygienic products and detergents available on the market. Although you may have your trusted favourites, it is always worth exploring what these products actually contain. Many cleaning products contain harmful chemicals which not only have a negative impact on the environment but can be harmful to the people living in the property.
Cleaning products with harmful and toxic ingredients have the potential to contaminate the water supply and make water purification more difficult.
Try homemade cleaning products such as bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, or lemon juice; these natural antibacterial cleaning products can be used instead of powerful bleaches or detergents.
Steam cleaners are also a great way of cleaning your home without the need for any harmful cleaning products. With just water, these cleaners can keep your home sparkling and environmentally-friendly!
3. Use Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Energy efficient light bulbs are often dismissed for their low light levels. However, in recent years, they have become more ubiquitous and technology is becoming more advanced.
The latest models of energy efficient bulbs on the market have been designed to combat the lack of light. On top of that, these bulbs use less electricity and require less frequent bulb replacement.
4. Good Insulation
A well-insulated home can go a long way in cutting the costs of running your home. Not only is it a very smart way to save money around the house, it will also take less energy when it comes to rehearting your home, which will have a hugely positive impact on the environment.
The best places to start insulating your home are the walls and the roof as they easily let heat out. Additionally, double glazing your windows will help to stop the heat escaping through the glass.
5. Install Solar Panels
Solar panels may be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of what an eco-friendly home looks like. People often shy away from this option due to the perceived cost but in spite of the initial layout, these panels really act as a long-term investment.
Installing solar panels on your home will massively cut down your electricity bills; in fact, for some people, solar panels are enough to fully XX their homes. For more information, see Green Home Grants and Solar Together London.
6. Compost Food Waste
Composting your food waste is an incredibly easy and cheap way to make your home more of a friend to the environment. Any leftover or old food can be left to its own devices in a compost container to later be used as useful compost in the garden.
Seeing what foods you are regularly recycling or throwing away may also make your shopping choices smarter and encourage less waste on a long-term basis.
7. Shop Second Hand
When decorating a new home, it can be easy to rush to the nearest furniture shop to scoop up the latest home fashions. However, buying your furniture second-hand will prevent more objects ending up in the landfill.
Second hand shops, charity stores and auctions are great places to look for preloved finds.
If you do decide to shop new, look for furniture made from recycled wood or other sustainable materials for a more eco-friendly choice.
8. Choose a Low-Flow Shower Head
It is widely recognised that showers can save more energy than baths as they lose less water and save on water bills; however, this will of course depend on the type of shower as well as the time spent in the shower.
A low-flow shower head will help to save energy in the home and waste less water. Additionally, it is advised not to spend longer than ten minutes in the shower in order to prevent excess water waste.
