Let’s Work Towards a Sustainable Eco-Home
In the last few years, a rise in sustainable and eco-friendly homes have become so much more than a passing trend. Apart from being a key aspect of taking personal responsibility for the environment, sustainable choices are also good for your wallet in the long run and are becoming increasingly attractive features on home listings.
Whether you’re thinking of trying to live more sustainably or save on your monthly bills, these key features should be high on your list of considerations to create the perfect eco-home.
Home Insulation
Even the most modern and cutting-edge home heating systems fight a losing battle if your home isn’t well insulated. Home heating systems take up a lot of energy in general, but while we certainly can’t do without them, homeowners should be insulating their homes well enough to trap heat within their living spaces.
A well-constructed home requires less cooling or heating overall. Ensure that all windows and doors are securely installed and that you’ve fixed any major leaks or ventilation issues. The use of heavy carpeting is a great way to trap heat as well, but if you’re not a fan of carpeted floors, try using thick and decorative rugs to insulate your home – in style.
In the last few years, a rise in sustainable and eco-friendly homes have become so much more than a passing trend.
Lighting, the right way
Old-school incandescent lights waste a tremendous amount of energy, in fact, almost 90% of the energy they use is converted to heat instead of light. Converting to LEDs is definitely the smarter choice for an eco-home. Not only are they far more energy-efficient, but they also last up to 25 times longer, making them a cost-efficient choice in the long run too.
Another little tip for lighting is to install dimmers, timers, or smart lighting systems that switch off when they sense no movement for a while. While they may be a bit of a hassle to install if you’re making adjustments to your current home, they save a lot as the years go by.
Energy-Efficient Appliances for an eco-home
Smart products have been flooding the market in recent years. When that old washing machine or dryer finally rumbles to a stop, why not make the switch to more energy-efficient appliances? These are especially easy choices to make with the use of energy labels. These let you know how much energy a particular appliance uses in relation to its size and in comparison to similar products in the market.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are a great addition to a sustainable home. Installing them isn’t cheap, but if you live in a particularly sunny area it could be exactly the right move. Apart from offsetting your energy bills – you could even generate enough energy to sell back to the grid, earning you a bit of extra cash on the side!
Sustainable Furniture, Paints & Décor
The use of sustainable furniture, paints & décor is a really fun way to be eco-friendly because it allows you to get that much more creative with your home design.
Sustainability in this area is usually defined by the use of recycled materials, minimal use of toxic chemicals, or by buying locally sourced décor that ultimately saves on transportation costs.
Ultimately, homeowners do have to ask some hard questions – such as whether the piece was made locally, what it was made from, and whether it would be long-lasting. In general, pieces that are more durable tend to be slightly more expensive.
But there is plenty of home décor that lends itself to sustainability naturally – the use of recycled wood, bamboo, stone, or clay is inherently environmentally friendly and is often beautiful and unique pieces that can tie your eco-home home together.
Organic Gardens and Growing Spaces
Organic gardens are becoming increasingly popular as people become more aware of the effects of pesticides or chemicals in our food. The idea of having a backyard farm to table atmosphere is extraordinarily appealing, even if all you have is a sweet little herb garden to tend.
Apart from the obvious culinary benefits, a great inexpensive addition to working towards your personal eco-home would be to create a green space. This will help with air purifying and calming for the body and mind, making them the ideal addition to a sustainable home.
The reality of creating a sustainable home often means investing heavily in the now, to reap payoffs in the future. But if the rewards include a smaller impact on your wallet all while saving the planet – we say it’s well worth it!
Photo Credit: stylecurator.com.au, a1solarstore.com
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Thank you for your interest in sustainable living! I’m excited to see more and more people taking steps to reduce their ecological footprint. One great way to do this is to use a storage unit to declutter your home and reduce your reliance on disposables.
I love that you’re thinking about ways to be more sustainable in your everyday life. Every little bit helps and I’m sure your efforts will inspire others to do the same. Keep up the good work!