We all know that how we live has a significant impact on the planet. Yet it can be difficult to know where to start making eco-friendly changes in our lives. The best place to start is with your home, where you spend the majority of your time. Here are some tips on how to make your home more sustainable.
Install An Air-Source Heat Pump
An air-source heat pump takes heat from the air and converts it into the hot water you need at home. It uses electricity to power. However, it will generate up to three times as much energy using the thermal energy it takes from the outside air. This means that only 25% of the energy generated comes from electricity, making it a sustainable and energy bill-cutting option for your home. Air To Heat offers air-source heat pump installation for apartments and houses and installs the heat pump outside of your property in a discrete location.
Buy Less, Reuse More
Many of us end up accumulating clutter, unnecessarily buying duplicates of items we don’t need. Have a decent declutter at home so you can have an idea of what you already own before you go out and buy another version of the same thing. Ultimately the more you purchase, the greater the chance you’re going to buy another item that ends up at a landfill site. If you do find items you are happy to get rid of, consider recycling them and donate anything that could be used again.
Upcycle Furniture
You don’t necessarily need to replace something just because it is tired or damaged. Consider upcycling furniture to give it a new lease of life and make it last for longer. There are many local re-upholstery services you can find with a simple Google search. Alternatively, you might want to upcycle items yourself or consider purchasing new cushion covers or sofa covers to change the colour scheme of your tired furniture. Ultimately, the less new furniture you purchase, the more sustainable your home will be.
Upgrade Your Windows
If you have a high energy bill and live in a home with low energy efficiency, you might want to consider getting your windows replaced. Older windows might have an eroded sealant or less energy-efficient glass. This will result in less heat being retained in your home. If you aren’t in a financial position to get your windows updated, consider using waterproof sealant around the edges of your internal window frames to improve your energy efficiency. You could also use draught excluders under your door frames to help retain heat during the colder months.
Final Thoughts
Installing an air source heat pump can make a huge difference to your energy bill and your home’s energy efficiency. New windows can also help bring down your energy use and make your home more sustainable. If you don’t currently have the budget to stretch to these two items, there are still smaller steps you can take to achieve these goals. Upcycling furniture, reusing items and investing in draught excluders or window sealants can have a significant impact on how sustainable your home really is.