In this article, we take a look at four sustainable home renovation options – including solar and insulation.
Every so often, our homes need a spruce up. Whether it is to make them feel fresh and new, add value to the overall price of a property, or introduce a change which has genuine practical benefits, renovations are a standard aspect of home ownership.
As we continue to gain a better understanding of the world around us and – more importantly – our role in it, it falls on owners to make sure the changes they are implementing are as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible.
But how do they do that? In this short guide, we’re going to discuss four changes you make to your home which will have the desired impact you want – without damaging the world around you.
1. Introduce insulation as soon as you can
Introducing insulation to a home will help to trap heat in during the colder months – which in turn means less reliance on energy-burning internal heating systems (like boilers, radiators, or central heating).
In order to heighten your sustainability efforts here, it’s wise to turn to materials which are themselves green in nature.
Some of the top options in this regard include things like:
- Sheep’s wool
- Cotton
- Denim
- Thermocork
- Aerogel
This is something you can discuss with the contractors working on your home. See what options they have available, and work out if it’s possible to use one of those listed above.
2. Use solar power in the home
While once the subject of ridicule, solar power (much like most environmentally friendly means of power) has proven itself to be a viable, ethical, and reliable alternative to traditional energy supplies.
In the UK alone, as much as 13,258 megawatts of energy is being produced on an annual basis – which is enough to power 3 million homes if required.
Attaching solar panels to the roof and outer-facing walls of your home will heighten the amount of energy you can take from the world around you. Most encouragingly of all, the cost of solar installation has dropped by a staggering 90% in the last 10 years.
3. Install a heat pump
Heat pumps – which are devices that transfer thermal energy from outside using a refrigeration cycle – provide a solid low-carbon alternative to traditional central heating and boiler systems.
Such is the effectiveness of these devices, the government is even offering grants of anywhere from £5,000-6,000 for people looking to install one at home.
As well as the benefits they provide when heating the home, most pumps have the ability to work in the opposite direction – also serving to take heat from the home on warmer days and cool your house by pumping it outside.
This two-fold benefit, coupled with their ethical approach, is making them an increasingly popular option across the world.
4. Swap from traditional electric bulbs to LEDs
Did you know that traditional bulbs are one of the most ineffective items in your household when it comes to energy input to output? Despite lighting accounting for up to 11% of all energy used in a home, bulbs are only able to convert 5% of the energy they use into light.
By contrast, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are incredibly effective forms of lighting. They come in a variety of colours, but it’s generally agreed that “warm white” is the best for making sure your home has a more natural ambience.
Have these sustainable renovations inspired your next home design changes? Make sure to keep all of these in mind.
