If you consume more calories than your burn, you start to gain weight, and if we burn more carbon dioxide than the planet can handle, we go into meltdown – quite literally! The solution is sustainability, which means maintaining a healthy equilibrium in the ways we live and work.
Passive Solar Design
These days, many new homes are constructed using passive solar design, which is a non-mechanical energy system that uses intelligent construction methods to harness the power of the sun. Passive solar design contributes to heating in winter and reflects the sun in summer.
When designing a building with passive solar, design architects look at the climate of the region and the placement of the building; this helps determine the best location for windows and doors. The type of windows and insulation are also considered to gain the best value from free energy.
Sustainable Windows
Over 50% of energy in the home is lost through the windows, so it makes sense to invest in the best available windows technologies. Energy saved through efficient window design contributes to lower annual energy bills and makes your home more sustainable overall, so don’t miss out!
When it comes to windows, you have several options; you can choose double or triple glazing; one of these is highly recommended, especially if you live in a colder climate. Window coatings also help to control the amount of UV and infrared light coming into a room, aiding sustainability.
Energy Efficient Appliances
When you think about the energy use of your home, you might think about the costs of heating or cooling your building; it’s true that these cost large chunks of cash every year, but it’s the other appliances that make up the bulk of the bills. Things like fridges, dishwashers, and ovens.
When buying new appliances for your home, there are two things you need to consider, the first is the initial cost of the appliance, and the second is the cost of running it. Sometimes, cheaper appliances are not as sustainable despite their low cost; it’s better to invest for the long term.
Alternative Energy Sources
While most households these days accept that lower bills and lower carbon output is desirable, it’s not always realistic, especially if you have an older home that doesn’t have the latest heating and cooling systems installed. In this case, you have other options like multi-fuel alternatives.
If you want to reduce the carbon output of your home, you can by contacting your energy supplier and switching to renewable sources. At the same time, you can invest in Tri Gas & Oil, which uses propane sources to take the pressure off your home systems – propane is cleaner.
Efficient Gardening
If you have an outdoor space at the back, you want to keep it green and lush; you might also want to plant fresh vegetables and herbs there so you can enjoy fresh carbon-neutral food in your home cooking. But your garden can also be used to create cleaner air and cool the home.
A drip irrigation system is one way to ensure that you don’t waste water and that your plants get the water they need more directly. Drip irrigation is a system of pipes that run through the garden and direct water into the root of the plants, the system is efficient, and it saves money.
Eco Building Materials
If you want your new home to be sustainable and eco-friendly, it makes sense to start off on the right foot and create your home using eco-building materials. Eco building materials include things like recycled steel, synthetic wool, bamboo, straw, cork, and eco-friendly, non-toxic paint.
Not only do these sustainable, eco-friendly building materials work well, but they are also free from toxins and don’t harm the environment, so, if you want to build a home that is healthy for your family, the environment, and for future generations, make smart choices in the beginning.
Renewable Energy
One of the simplest ways to become carbon neutral and support net-zero targets is to switch to renewable energy as a primary power source. These days, the vast majority of energy providers supply energy from renewable sources, so it’s worth checking with your provider and switching.
Renewable energy is very good, but a biomass boiler is a better choice if you can afford to install one. A biomass system is more direct, and the wood you burn is sustainably sourced and highly regulated, so you know that when you buy from here, you’re burning sustainable wood.
Energy Smart Meters
It’s not only the infrastructure of your home you need to think about when attempting to make your life more sustainable; you also need to think about your habits and the way you live; with some effective changes in the right places, you can reduce energy costs and save on output.
Smart meters come in different forms; they are often available from your energy supplier and provided without any change. A smart meter tells you exactly how much power you’re using and where the power is coming from, allowing you to change your household habits to live better.
Recycle and Upcycle
If you’re moving home or having a big clearout, you might want to invest in a skip to put all of your waste material into and ship it off to the landfill. Before you do this, think about what can be salvaged from the skip and reused or resold; you’ll be surprised what you find can be useful.
For example, old wood and metal can be taken to the scrap yard and exchanged for cash; the materials will then be reused or sustainably scraped. Even old appliances that look to have no value can be dismantled and sold for material or parts. Most items have value somewhere.
Curtains and Blinds
Whether you want to let more light in on the south-facing side of your house or trap more heat in your home in the winter, curtains and blinds are useful to think about. Of course, you can build sustainably, but choosing the right window coverings is an affordable way to be sustainable.
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