In recent years, environmental concerns have shown up on the political agenda, with large public demonstrations and government rhetoric emphasizing all things green. We’re all wise to worry about the impact that our behavior as consumers might have on the environment. Among the most effective ways, we can minimize this impact is by making changes to the most polluting of our possessions: the homes we live in.
Let’s take a look at some of the more effective changes you might make to your home.
Stop the Phantom Load
Change the Roof
Installing loft insulation can pay for itself within a few years if you’re starting from nothing. Even if you already have insulation down, you can add a little bit more and improve the home’s thermal performance for years to come. The recommended level for glass wool insulation is around 270mm – just make sure that you don’t compress it.
The roof itself might also benefit from a little bit of extra attention. Installing solar panels will help you to reduce your electricity bills in the long run, especially if it’s paired with a battery. A strong roof membrane will ensure that you’re not going to get any water seeping through during heavy rain, too.
Change the Lights
Modern LED bulbs are orders of magnitude more efficient than older halogen ones. By switching your existing bulbs out, you could easily recoup the cost of investment within a few months, if not sooner. Bear in mind, however, that manufacturing new lights imposes its own environmental cost – so consider waiting until the old ones fail.
Double-glazing
Double glazing works via a similar principle to cavity walls. By sandwiching a layer of inert gas between two glass panels, you’ll be able to hugely reduce the transmission of heat from one side of the window to the other. If the seal on your existing double-glazed windows has broken, you might swap them out for new replacements.
Shut the Curtains
Investing in a big set of heavy curtains will limit airflow near to the window, and limit heat loss – but crucially, only when you actually draw them at night.
Compost food waste
You can turn the food waste that your kitchen produces into compost that can be used in the garden. Either pick up a bin from your local garden center or build your own. By cutting down on manure-based fertilizer, you’ll hugely reduce the impact of your gardening efforts.
Get the Boiler Serviced
The more efficiently the boiler is running, the better. Even marginal gains can be worthwhile. Plus, getting the boiler serviced every year might be a condition of its warrantee. f the boiler is older, then you might swap it out for a more efficient replacement – or go for something new, like a heat pump but before doing so, best to look for the new boiler cost to know your budget.
