9 ways to make your home eco-friendly

As time goes on, many of us are becoming more environmentally conscious. Being eco-friendly not only helps you contribute to a sustainable environment, it can also save you money. Here are nine ways you can make your home a more eco-friendly place.

1. Install a smart meter

Your heating is one of the biggest ways you can use energy. It can be easy to leave it on for longer than needed, especially during the winter months. You can combat this by having a smart meter installed.

Smart meters can be programmed to only turn on at certain times of day, for example just before you get home from work. They are a must for anybody looking to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy bills.

2. Energy efficient light bulbs

Energy efficient lightbulbs have been around for a long time, and everybody should be making the switch by now. Not only do energy efficient bulbs use less electricity, they last longer too.

3. Install solar panels

Solar panels are an essential feature for any eco home, providing you with completely clean electricity. Solar panels are certainly a long-term investment, as well as an opportunity to be eco-friendly.

4. Saving water

There are numerous ways you can save water in your home. Firstly, take the time to fix any leaks. Also incorporate the habits of turning the water off when brushing your teeth or shaving. Another idea is to install a low-flow shower-head: these have been shown to save up to 160,000 litres of water for a family of four.

5. Speak to sustainability consultants

All homes are different and there’s usually a great deal that a homeowner can do to make their home more eco-friendly. One of the best ways to find out these things is by speaking with a sustainability consultant, who will be able to provide you with an analysis and ideas on how best to make changes to your home.

6. Use natural cleaning products

Using harmful chemicals to clean is bad for the environment, as you’re putting them into the water supply when washing them away. This means water will take more purification before it is safe to use again.

But in the majority of cases, you don’t really need to use them. For day-to-day cleaning tasks, natural products like vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and citric acid from citrus fruits can effectively be used in place of caustic chemicals.

7. Insulate

One of the smartest ways to improve your home’s eco-friendliness is to ensure that you use as little energy as possible. A great way to do this is by investing in insulation. Good insulation helps hold in the heat, meaning you don’t need to burn energy reheating the home all the time.

There are numerous places that can be insulated, such as within the walls and the roof. It can be smart to consider double glazing any windows that don’t already have it as well. Also, cover any exposed hardwood floors with rugs. Rugs are a cost-effective and stylish way to help insulate your home and prevent air from slipping out through the cracks in your floors.

8. Create your own compost

Turn your kitchen scraps and leftover food into compost. You may be surprised at how much of the food you currently throw away can be recycled and turned into compost. Simply place a compost bin in your garden and fill it with any food waste.

9. Buy recycled products

From toilet tissue to kitchen roll, try to buy recycled products whenever you can. Any time you notice that there is a recycled option to buy, it’s worth purchasing. You can also by recycled technology such as gaming consoles, mobiles, and reconditioned machinery.