Getting greener is an increasing incentive for many people who want to save money and care for the environment. Thankfully, there are easy things you can do that can transform even older homes into more eco-friendly, energy-efficient properties, as well as more expensive jobs that require a greater outlay but can lead to big savings in the future.
Light It Up
Increasing natural light is good for the mind, body, environment and your bank balance. Cutting back shrubs, cleaning windows or even adding skylights can get you more vitamin D and increase your energy, whilst reducing the need to rely on artificial light.
Add the Right Energy
Perform a home energy check and try to use less gas to reduce your carbon footprint and your bills. Renewable clean energy is a premium alternative.
Consider solar panels installed by renewable energy specialists such as GSM. These require an initial financial outlay but are cost-effective in the long term. They help to keep your carbon footprint and bills down and can even earn you money through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). You can learn more about this on the government website at.
Get Smart
Smart devices can add convenience and improve the efficiency of energy flows to keep costs and environmental impact down.
Add Glaze
Go for triple glazing to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Many experts believe that triple glazing will replace double glazing as the norm in the future due to its greater capacity for keeping heat in and reducing energy consumption.
Insulation is also important and is one of the simplest ways to go greener and reduce electricity and gas bills. Use weatherproofing to sort out air leaks, add thick curtains and make use of easy accessories such as draft excluders.
Heating Choices
If you’re redesigning your property, consider installing a heat pump and underfloor heating for a more sustainable, more efficient system. Air source heat pumps use energy from the air outside to create heat while underfloor heating helps to distribute the warmth evenly.