Can You Make Your Existing Home More Sustainable?

The growing trend creating more sustainable homes has affected home building trends quite a bit in the last decade or two. Looking for ways to create a comfortable environment in ways that aren’t going to be detrimental to the planet has become the norm for a growing number of new builds with the attractiveness of lowering the running costs of our homes, saving water and energy, and improving how well our homes function as a whole being too good to pass up. Not to mention that creating a more sustainable home helps to create a much more natural and healthier environment for the entire family.

What is a sustainable home?

In order to make a more sustainable home, you need to understand what one would look like. Sustainable is a word that we are hearing a lot of, but what does it really mean? Having a sustainable home is one that is efficient and that is created to respect different resources, such as energy usage and water usage. It will last much longer than any other kinds of systems. Sustainable homes will also use materials that have a lower impact on the environment, and yet still produce high-performance materials. A sustainable home is one that is efficient in how it is manufactured, shipped, and installed. Not only that, but as a result of the high-quality materials, the systems are less likely to break, meaning that they will last longer, producing less waste (and being more cost-efficient for you too). 

Tips for building a sustainable house

If you are planning a self-build, then it is only natural that you will be looking for ways to make the build much more sustainable. However, this isn’t going to be something that everyone can do. The good news is that you can create a more sustainable home in your existing home, you just need to know the tips and tricks that will help you. Here are some of the things to think about. 

• Consider solar panels: solar panels are items that are added onto the home that absorb the power of the sun, to create energy. Even if you live in a cooler climate, you can still make the most of the power of the sun that you do have. By choosing the best solar company to install the panels on your home, you know you will be getting value for money. Of course, there are up front costs associated with getting solar panels. But they can quickly pay for themselves as you will reduce your energy bill as you can create your own energy.

• Install high-performance windows: if you want to find another way to insulate your home well and reduce your energy bill, then installing high-performance windows can make a difference. So much heat from your home can be lost through windows, so taking steps to reduce this is important. High-performance windows are designed with insulation in mind, including double glazing, air-tight construction, and special coatings to seal in the air. If you replace what you have for more up-to-date ones, then you will get much better energy efficiency for the home.

• Invest in appliances that are energy-efficient: there are so many systems and appliances in the home that can consume a lot of energy. Some appliances can be so bad, as you consider the price of them, alongside the price of running them! If you have appliances that are more energy-efficient, which often means more modern, then it can cut down how much it costs to run them quite significantly. Some appliances to look at replacing for more energy-efficient ones are appliances such as water heaters, washing machines, air conditioners, dishwashers, and refrigerators. Additionally, exploring open banking can provide insights into your energy expenses, and considering a revenue based loan could be an option for financing these energy-efficient upgrades.

• Check your home's insulation: your home may already be well insulated, in the attic space, floors, and walls. The more modern the home, the more likely it is to have insulation. If you have an older home, then it can be time to look at what insulation there is and what can be done to improve it. You can look at foam injection, for example, as well as getting insulation for your attic space. Insulation walls and floors can be done when a home is already built, so don’t neglect this as an option to make your home more insulated and much warmer and energy-efficient. 

• Install a microplastics water filter: if you want to do a simple thing to your home that can make a difference, it is installing a filter to your washing machine to stop microplastics from filtering into the water system and therefore, the environment. You can also filter your tap water to do the same, which is going to be a good thing for your health.