With the increase in utility costs, reducing your reliance on gas and electricity or at least reducing their use is simple common sense, but it is fair to say that there is a much larger focus on sustainability and green living these days. Going green will not only bring financial benefits but will also help reduce our impact on the environment. In this article we will take a look at how you can create a green home.
Recycle, Reuse and Upcycle
Yes, we all recycle our plastics and cardboard into our recycling bins, but there is so much more that can be done as far as recycling is concerned. The first thing really is to reduce the use of non eco-friendly materials. Simply cutting out the use of plastics or non-recyclable materials will help your sustainability journey. When it comes to recycling though, instead of throwing away unwanted furniture or other items, why not recycle or upcycle time? That old console table doesn’t need to go to the landfill, give it a sand and a lick of paint and you can create something fresh and fashionable, or if it is surplus, why not list it on Freecycle, on your local Facebook Community page or donate it to your local charity shop and let some one else enjoy them. The same goes for clothes. If you are looking to thin out your wardrobe, why not get your sewing skills going and add some extra life to that slightly jaded pair of jeans. This leads us on nicely to buying things. There are some amazingly good items to be purchased from good charity shops and the market for buying unloved items is blossoming. So next time you want a new piece of furniture, item of clothing, kitchenware or home accessory, why not try the charity shop first rather than buying new?
Energy Efficiency
One of the biggest impacts we have on the environment comes from our gas and electricity use. Did you know that 50% of all household CO2 emissions come from heating and electricity? In 2014, which is the most recent data that equated to nearly 4 tonnes of CO2 just from heating and electricity. Being more energy efficient at home will reduce this significantly and will not only save money but will also lessen the environmental impact from our homes. Some things to do:
- Insulate your property well. Loft insulation, wall insulation and good quality doors and windows are the key here. The more your property is insulated and the better the widows and doors, the less heat you will lose/need.
- Use LED lights rather than halogen lights. The use of LED lights in your property will reduce the electricity used by your lighting.
- Turn all appliances off at the plug. We are all guilty of leaving our appliances such as TV’s satellite boxes and games consoles on standby. Over the course of a year it is estimated that the average household burns £147 annually simply by keeping items on standby.
- Purchase energy efficient appliances. All domestic appliances have an energy efficiency rating associated with them from A-G (since 2020). A rated appliances are the most energy efficient and will use the least electricity.
- Use radiator temperature control valves and only heat the rooms you use.
- Turn the thermostat down by 1˚C and save up to 10% on your heating use/bills.
Sustainable Upgrades
With the increase in utility costs solar panels are now more attractive than ever and if you plan on staying in your home for some time, it certainly might be worth investigating having them installed so you can generate your own electricity, even during winter. The installation of heat pumps to replace gas burning boilers will also help your green credentials. Although they don’t cost less to run than a boiler, they can be powered using certified green electricity which is zero carbon. Although, if you have solar panels too, there is every chance you can run your heat pump from the solar panels if they are sized right. If you live in the right part of the country and have a decent sized garden, you could really go one extra and subject to planning permission, install a small wind turbine to generate electricity. A 6kw wind turbine if sited properly can generate 9,000 kWh per year. Given that an average large household uses on average 4,300 kWh this will give a good excess to pipe back into the grid.
Being green is actually a lot easier than you would think and by making some simple lifestyle changes, re-using what you can, buying second hand, donating to charity and making some home improvements you could really reduce your environmental impact.
