5 Ways to Make Your Home More Eco Friendly

Across the globe, more and more of us are becoming aware of the benefits of eco friendly living.

Photo: Maienza – Wilson Architecture + Interiors

At the top of this list is contributing to a more sustainable society, yet there are other ways in which a go green lifestyle can have a positive affect. Something that might come as a surprise to learn is that an eco friendly home can help to save you plenty of money, sometimes as much as thousands of pounds per year.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the top five ways to make your home a more eco friendly environment…

Photo: Chris Dyson Architects

Use a Smart Meter

Whilst many of us now use a smart meter to heat our homes, many still haven’t moved on from the days of manual boilers. With a smart meter, users can set times for the heating to switch on or off, making for a much more efficient system that can save both time and money. In winter especially, it can be easy to leave the heating on for much longer than we really need to, either by way of forgetting or growing used to the warmth. With a smart meter, you can schedule heating to a stricter schedule.

Make Sure You’re Using Insulation

Essentially, eco friendly living is about living a more energy efficient lifestyle. One of the best, most effective ways to do this is by installing a high level of insulation at home, especially if you live in a cooler climate. Cavity wall insulation and roof insulation is a given in modern homes but if you live in an older build, you may want to look at installing or replacing old insulation. Installing new insulation can be a long, complicated process, meaning you might need to find somewhere to store your belongings in the meantime. Double-glazed windows are a must in a cooler climate and even carpets/rugs can aid in keeping heat inside your home when temperatures drop outdoors.

Photo: Chris Snook

Keep Water Consumption to a Minimum

The amount of water that a modern family consumes per year can be staggering. With showering, appliances, washing and drinking, the final figure is often somewhere in the hundreds of thousands of litres. Naturally, water is an essential component of living yet a few simple tricks can bring your consumption down drastically, contributing to a more living green lifestyle. Using a low-flow shower head is a great way of doing this whilst fixing any leaks in pipes/taps can also be a boon. 

Energy Efficient Light bulbs Are a Must

This is another thing that many of us take for granted in 2019 but it might come as a shock to hear that many households still haven’t upgraded to using energy efficient lightbulbs. Although they may cost slightly more to purchase at the outset, energy efficient lightbulbs will save money in the long-run through efficient use of energy and a much longer life than old-school incandescent bulbs.

Photo: LevEco Architects

Get Smart in the Kitchen

A touchy subject for many is the sustainability of our diets. Whilst many people choose to limit or cut-out their consumption of red-meat altogether, citing its impact on the environment, there are ways to live a more eco friendly life without it affecting your diet. One such way is by using natural cleaning products like vinegar, caustic soda and citric acid or simply by choosing environmentally friendly bin bags. Buying glass bottles to store water if you consume lots of bottled water can also be a great way live a more eco friendly life in the kitchen.