Green Living: eco-friendly home improvements you can make today

Green Living: eco-friendly home improvements you can make today

When the topic of climate change would arise in the past, many of us would scratch our heads. However, in recent years especially, the seriousness of global warming has never been too far from the newspaper stands. Homeowners up and down the country are taking notice of climate change and doing their bit in their quest to help protect the environment.

If you’re passionate about saving the planet, there are things you can do today to your property to help protect mother earth. A little goes a long way, so if green living is what appeals to you, here are some eco-friendly home improvement projects you can undertake that can boost your property’s value while reducing your carbon footprint in the process.

Install solar panels

Installing solar panels is one of the most popular eco-home improvement projects homeowners undertake. The reason for it is simple – solar panels can provide hot water or electricity to your home. Because the energy comes from natural sources, it’s clean and renewable, meaning you don’t have to rely on fossil fuels to power your abode.

Swap to energy star appliances

This one may not be much of a surprise. If you need to replace any appliances in your home, rather than opting for the first ones you see, it could pay off to switch to eco-friendly counterparts. Whether you need a new fridge, washing machine, dryer, or freezer, swapping to energy-star appliances may be the answer. These household appliances will use less electricity, meaning you won’t have to worry about a huge bill arriving on your doorstep!

Switch to energy-efficient lighting

One of the most sustainable home improvements you can make is upgrading your home’s lighting. Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs is a great way to use less energy. If you’ve always opted for traditional light bulbs, you may not be aware of just how much energy they use. One of the great things about energy-efficient light bulbs is that they can last twice as long. This means you won’t have to worry about getting the step ladder out as much to change the bulb! In a nutshell, energy-efficient lighting helps in lowering electricity bills and carbon dioxide emissions without compromising light quality in your home.

Switch to energy-efficient lighting

One of the most sustainable home improvements you can make is upgrading your home’s lighting. Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs is a great way to use less energy. If you’ve always opted for traditional light bulbs, you may not be aware of just how much energy they use. One of the great things about energy-efficient light bulbs is that they can last twice as long. This means you won’t have to worry about getting the step ladder out as much to change the bulb! In a nutshell, energy-efficient lighting helps in lowering electricity bills and carbon dioxide emissions without compromising light quality in your home.

Insulate, insulate, insulate

Fitting renewables to your property is pointless if you have poor insulation, because the heat will just flow straight back out! Insulation is a must for any eco-renovation. You should start by insulating your loft. Doing so will stop heat from escaping through the roof. Next, insulate cavity walls. Both of these projects will reduce your carbon footprint, protect the fabric of your home, and potentially save you hundreds of pounds a year in energy bills.

Buy pre-loved furniture

If you’re tackling a home improvement project like redesigning your living room or upgrading your bedroom, you’ll likely want to buy new furniture. However, rather than purchasing the freshest furnishings, why not make an eco-friendlier choice and consider buying furniture that has been made of recycled materials, or go down the second-hand route? Both options will massively lower the amount of waste that otherwise ends up in a landfill.

Start a compost bin

What do you do with your leftovers? If the answer is to throw it all straight in the bin, it’s time to change your way of thinking. Your food scraps can be turned into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. It’s incredibly easy to do too! Simply begin collecting your kitchen food scraps in a composter. Over time, this will become a natural source of compost. The great news is you don’t have to spend a penny composting food. What’s more, you won’t have to use unnecessary chemicals to do the job – a win-win!

Switch to eco-friendly fixtures

Is a bathroom renovation on the cards? If so, there are eco-friendly choices you can make that will help lower your carbon footprint. One of these is swapping your toilet and shower head for energy-efficient ones. This change could see you reduce a lot of your water waste. Make sure to look into installing a low-flow showerhead and low-flow toilet. Both will lower how much water you use daily. Over the year you will definitely save some cash too!

Stick to eco-friendly cleaning products

We all like to keep our home spick and span. If you’re no different, have a look at the types of cleaning products you use. You see, reading the ingredients in a cleaning product could startle you. There are loads of harmful chemicals in shop-bought cleaning products that aren’t great for the environment. Thankfully, you can switch to eco-friendly items that are better for the planet. These include bamboo products rather than plastic, or eco-friendly soaps and candles.

Whether you want to make big changes like installing solar panels or simply get into the swing of composting, there are all kinds of eco-friendly improvements and changes you can make around the home for the better. While you may not believe your actions alone will do much, if we all stand together and start becoming more eco-conscious, this is sure to benefit the planet and help you lead a more eco-friendly, sustainable way of life.