How to Make Your Home Greener

The climate crisis is an issue that can no longer be ignored, and while there are big changes that need to be made by governments and corporations all over the world to help with this, individuals also need to start making some changes if they want to help the environment.

If you are someone who would like to start moving toward a greener lifestyle, there are several things that you can do. This includes making sure that you recycle, upcycling furniture items and clothes, growing vegetables and fruit at home or in an allotment, walking or cycling when you can instead of using the car and reducing your energy wastage at home. To make these things easier, you can also look at making changes to your property so that it’s an eco-friendlier home to live in, and here are a few ways you can do this.

Solar Panels

A lot of new-build homes have solar panels already installed on the roof, but if your property doesn’t, this could be a great solution to generating power for your home in an eco-friendlier way. While you might still need to use some power from the main grid, solar panels are very good as an energy source, particularly if you’re in a sunny part of the world. Not only are these an environmentally friendly solution, but they could also help to reduce your household energy bills as well.

Air Source Heat Pumps

Another trend that has become increasingly popular for those looking to create a green living space is air source heat pumps. They extract heat energy from the air and help to heat your water and radiators. They are suitable for most properties, so adding this feature to your home shouldn’t be difficult. They don’t take up too much space either, so you won’t have to worry about losing a lot of your garden space or that they will be dominating features on your home that will make it look unattractive. Air source pumps might not be the ideal choice for everyone, but you can look at some pros and cons of an air source heat pump to help you decide if it would be a good fit for your eco-friendly home.

Improve the Insulation

It is important to have quality insulation in your home to help you stay warm in the winter, and if you are noticing that your energy bills are particularly high, this is likely due to poor insulation in your property. Having your current insulation replaced and improved will help you to live a greener lifestyle because you will stop wasting energy on heating your home, and it will likely drastically reduce your household bills too.

Use Sustainable Construction Materials

If you are having an extension added to your property or other types of renovation work, being mindful of the materials you use for construction is another way to make sure you’re doing your bit for the environment. Concrete is a very common material used in construction but is not an eco-friendly choice, as cement production creates a lot of carbon monoxide. It also is not a material that will break down or can be repurposed, so it is often left where it is or traces of it are, after demolition. Steel is another frequent material used in construction, and while it is very strong, it is another one that doesn’t work well for the environment. If you want to make your construction greener, consider using alternative materials, such as timber (provided it is responsibly sourced), bamboo, recycled plastics if you’re going to use any at all, cork, ashcrete or even sheep’s wool.

Composting and Growing a Kitchen Garden

If you are someone who does enjoy spending time in the garden and even cooking with homemade produce, this is a wonderful way to be a little greener and indulge in those hobbies. You can create compost yourself easily at home, and although it might take some time to break down, it is worth it. Things like vegetable peel, coffee grounds, eggshells, apple cores, etc., can all be put in a large compost bin and will breakdown over time. Just don’t put any cooked foods in there or meat products. Easy vegetables that you can grow in your garden include potatoes, carrots, cabbages and lettuce. If you have a greenhouse, you could also try growing peppers, chillies, tomatoes and other fruit and veg that prefer warmer temperatures.

If you would like to move toward a greener lifestyle, consider these upgrades you can make to your home, as they will all help you to achieve this and do a bit more to help the environment.