This month we’ve looked at smaller tasks you can do around your home to help save energy. From draught-proofing your home to turning the TV off at the wall. They’re all small steps that can help benefit your day-to-day lifestyle. But we noticed a few of our members wanting to invest in reducing their energy. So, we’ve created a quick guide to help you discover larger projects to tackle to ensure eco-friendly living and the future of your home. Some of these are more expensive than others but being aware of them can help you focus on where to invest your money in the future.
Insulation technology
Insulating your home is the first investment you should make if you’re unsure what lurks behind the plasterboard. It’s not going to be cheap, but it is one of the best returns on your money that you can get. Especially if you’re planning to live in the property for a long time. We’ve done a fair amount of research and as far as eco-friendly insulation goes, there’s plenty on offer depending on your budget.
Ecological wood wool insulation – mild investment
This product is one of our favourites because it’s suitable for roofs, walls and floors. It’s easy to customise and fit into the layout of your home and doesn’t irritate skin or lungs like some cheaper insulations do. It has a high heat storage capacity, plus it also has great acoustic insulation qualities – perfect if you live in a built-up area. It can be a little pricey for what it is, but we feel it’s worth the investment.
Eco-friendly Sheep wool insulation – moderate investment
Sheep wool is becoming more and more popular as a product for insulation. Sadly, it is not one of the most affordable products. It’s great at insulating your home and even has air purifying capabilities, making it a great option for those living in built-up city areas. If you can afford the pinch, sheep wool is ideal as it’s recyclable, moisture-regulating and vapour-permeable but it does come at a higher cost than most eco-friendly options. Make sure if buying this product you get it from a sustainable source – do your research!
Smart electric technology
There are so many electrical points in the typical UK home. From plug sockets to internet cables and lighting. Thankfully, technology for electricity has evolved beyond a switch and now we’re looking at smart home options. Your smart meter is just the beginning! Here are a few ways that we’re modernising our homes in an eco-friendly living way.
Smart heating control – moderate investment
From smart thermostats to smart radiators, there are many ways to look into this area. We really appreciate the ease of use for controlling your heating via your phone. Especially because heating is quickly becoming one of the most expensive bills. There are plenty of options to choose from such as Hive, Nest, and Tado. No matter how your heating is currently controlled in your home, one of these products will suit your home. This isn’t an incredibly expensive investment but is one worth making.
Smart power strips for phantom usage – minor investment
We spoke recently on our blog about the importance of turning items off at the socket. Leaving electrical items on standby means they slowly eat at your consumption and increase your carbon footprint. In 2021, a good investment might be into smart power strips. Smart power strips know when an item is on standby, so instead of allowing it to slowly consume electricity, it cuts off all power to the device. The best part is that these aren’t a huge cost, but essential when modernising your home.
Sourcing eco-friendly living products
From the paint you use on the walls to where your tiles are sourced, there are plenty of eco-friendly products out there to use when renovating and modernising your home. Here we’re going to share a few of our favourite brands and why they’re good for the environment:
- Graphenstone – for all your painting needs. This company are incredible on quality and their number one priority is the environment.
- Bereco – for all timber doors and windows. These products are high quality and focus on reducing carbon footprints (especially during manufacture). They also claim the average 3 bed home can save £212 a year on heating by investing in their products.
- IKOslate – if your roof needs a desperate revamp. Why not use these 99% recycled slates from reengineered materials. The best part? All offcuts are 100% recyclable with them.
- Claybrook – for tiles, baths and more home products. We love the tiles from this company as they’re made using recycled glass. A lot of their items are created using by-products and the general ethos of the brand is incredibly eco-friendly.
You may not be looking to renovate your home in 2022 or in fact, for a while. But it’s important that when you do, you consider how you can build a home designed for an eco-friendly future. Always ask yourself these three questions when selecting products: Where did the product come from? (The closer it is, the smaller the carbon footprint), how long will it last? (Durability is essential for sustainability) and what will happen at the end of its life? (Can it be recycled, or will it go to landfill?). Stick to these questions and they will no doubt point you in many eco-friendly living directions, no matter what room you are doing up.
