People are becoming more environmentally-conscious, thanks to an increase in public awareness about the threats facing our planet. As a result, householders are looking for ways to make their home eco-friendly, which means they are aiming to implement practices that will create a healthier planet and population.
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Being more eco-friendly helps people to contribute to a sustainable environment – and it can also save you money. There are several ways to improve your home to make it more environmentally friendly. It isn’t difficult to adapt your lifestyle and the changes you can make are relatively straight-forward.
Light bulbs
Something as simple as changing your light bulbs can make your home greener. Invest in more efficient CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs as a more eco-friendly alternative to older, incandescent bulbs. Although CFL bulbs have been around for a long time, some people still haven’t got round to using them.
It makes sense to switch to CFLs, as they use less electricity, saving you money on your bill. Typically, they use 60% to 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs. They will also last longer, so you’re not spending as much money to replace them.
Water
When considering sustainability, don’t overlook the fact that it relates to water use as well. Being eco-friendly means you should be serious about saving water. The most obvious task is to mend any leaks around your home. Then, make a few simple lifestyle changes.
Don’t keep the tap running when you brush your teeth or have a shave. Also, you can install a low-flow shower-head, which can save a family of four up to 160,000 litres of water with regular use.
Solar panels
Solar panels will provide you with clean electricity. They are a long-term investment and research has shown it can take around 20 years before you will break even, depending on where you live. Sometimes, you can even make enough money to sell some of your electricity to the national grid.
As well as being a financial investment, installing solar panels is also a way of making your home much greener. Solar energy is a truly renewable energy source, with lower maintenance costs.
Insulation
Make sure you use as little energy as possible by having your home properly insulated to help keep the heat in. This means you won’t have to burn extra energy because the heat is escaping through the roof or walls, which should both be insulated.
You should also consider double-glazed windows all over your home. If you have exposed hardwood floors, try buying rugs – a stylish and effective way to stop the heat from escaping through any cracks in the floor.
Creating compost
Never throw kitchen scraps and left-over food in the dustbin. Instead, turn them into home-made compost. You will be surprised at how much food you throw away, but it does make excellent compost. The benefits of composting are enriching the soil, helping to retain moisture and reducing plant disease and pests.
It will also encourage beneficial bacteria and fungi to form that will break down organic matter to create a nutrient-filled, rich material.
Natural cleaning products
Some cleaning products contain chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. When they are washed away, they end up in the water supply. This means the water requires more purification to make it safe again. Instead, try using one of the many natural alternative cleaning products.
Most day-to-day cleaning can be completed using several natural substances, including citric acid from citrus fruits, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
Smart meter
Heating your home is one of the biggest sources of expenditure. In winter in particular, we tend to leave the heating on for longer than we need it, even when our home is heated to a comfortable temperature. It’s a common way of using far too much energy. Having a smart meter installed can help combat this problem.
A smart meter can be programmed to turn on and off at specific times of day. For example, it can turn on the heating just before you’re due to arrive home and then turn it off again about an hour before you’re due to go out. If you’re looking to reduce energy bills and your carbon footprint, then a smart meter is a must.
Make sure your home is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, as well as eco-friendly, by contacting Furniture Pack Solutions about our range of high-quality, buy-to-let furniture.
If you’re a landlord who’s refurbishing a property to let, we can help. We stock a variety of furniture packs for every type of property, from professional to student accommodation. To find out more, contact us for details.