Sustainability is a hot word that has become a major part of our society. Homeowners are seeking new ways in which to become more sustainable, which allows them not only to be more “green” but also potentially less dependent upon external influence. It can be easy to think that becoming more sustainable is difficult, expensive or time-consuming. However, this is not the case. You can be easily insert more sustainability into your life – check out our six top tips.
Tip #1: Lighten your Lighting
One of the significant factors in sustainability is the amount of energy that is consumed and outputted by your home. Lighting plays a big role in this, accounting for more than 15 per cent of a household’s typical electricity bill. One of the best ways to reduce this energy usage is by switching to LED lightbulbs, specifically those which guarantee a long lifespan for the bulb.LEDs use up to 90 per cent less energy than their incandescent counterparts, and they last up to 25 times longer. This means not only do they help the planet; they help your wallet as well. You can even choose from a variety of colours to suit the ambience of your room.
Tip #2: Tighten those Taps
According to
WaterRegsUK, the most complained about plumbing problem in the UK is a leaky tap. Do you know that most homes have a leaky faucet, shower, or other water source leak? A leak of one dropper second can increase your water bill by six per cent, and it equates to about 460 million litres of water wastage a year!If you spot a leak and you’re feeling confident in your DIY skills, a lot of basic leaky issues can be fixed quite easily. If you can’t get the leak to stop yourself, get in touch with a professional to help.
Tip #3: Drown The Draughts
Draughts and gaps around doors and windows should be the next thing to check. It goes without saying that draughts will let out the precious heat you’ve paid to create, resulting in higher energy bills and greater energy consumption.
Energy Saving Trust offer some great ways to reduce the draughts (and potentially save around £25 a year!
Tip #4: Grow Your Own
Growing your own food bring a variety of benefits. You’ll use less fuel getting to and from a store. You’ll no doubt delight in seeing the buds of a pepper or a tomato on the vine. You’ll also increase the amount of clean air around your house. If you are fortunate to have a garden, it doesn’t have to be massive; why not partition some off to grow some produce. Even if you don’t have a garden, there are many fantastic options like this
Microgreen Grower to grow your own fruit and veg indoors.If gardening is not your bag, why not at least plant a tree or flowers? You can still plant a tree or flowers in the yard. You don’t have to harvest to lessen your impact on the world and build up your home’s sustainability.
Tip #5 Reserve Rainwater
Collecting rainwater is an excellent way to increase your home’s sustainability. It is usually relatively easy to attach a butt to your existing gutter system. This collected water can then be used for watering plants, cleaning cars, or any other activity apart from consumption. By lowering the amount of water you consume, you lower your water and energy consumption at the same time. Both of these reduce your carbon footprint and increase your personal sustainability.
Tip #6 Bask in the Sun
A great many appliances, lights and other electronics in the home can be powered by solar energy captured using solar panels. Whilst the initial cost implications of this are, of course, higher, the long term pays off in lower energy bills, and a smaller carbon footprint makes it worth it. Nowadays, even your garden room can be powered by solar panels on the roof. Some energy companies offer assistance in the form of grants for solar panels. It’s easy to see from these six simple tips that becoming more sustainable is more accessible and more achievable than you may have initially thought. If you are looking to install a garden room with solar panels, check out our listings here.
