It’s no secret that the environment is a major issue across the world. People from all walks of life are being encouraged to reduce their impact on the planet, and a lot of the work that can be done will be done in your home. Of course, though, finding ways to achieve the eco-friendly goals you set for yourself without ruining the appearance of your property can be a big challenge. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring some of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact while still maintaining a beautiful home. Of course, this will also help to reduce the bills you have to pay each month.
Adding Invisible Insulation
Insulation is one of the most powerful tools homeowners have at their disposal when they are working to lower their monthly bills. Trapping warm air inside your home, insulation can enable you to turn off your heaters more often, while also keeping your home cooler during summer. Many of the most popular forms of insulation you can find are completely invisible from the outside of your home, and this makes this a great option for those looking to lower their monthly bills without impacting the appearance of their place.
Attic/Loft Insulation: Most residential properties are built with space between the top ceiling and the roof, allowing for slanted roofs that allow water to drain away. This leaves a lot of space that can be filled with insulation without interfering with the outside appearance of your home, all while being very cheap to install.
Cavity Insulation: Modern homes also have gaps inside their walls, with many building techniques using as little material as possible to create strong structures. These gaps can be filled with insulation, helping you to trap heat inside your home without having to worry about changing the way that it looks.
Windows & Doors: Alongside your roof and walls, your windows and doors are also likely to leak a lot of heat out of your home. Door and window replacement can be a little bit pricey, but this sort of work will be worth the cost to make sure that your home is using as little power as possible. In many cases, this will save you more money than you spend on it in the long run.
Using Smart Meters
Managing power inside your home can be a big challenge when you are trying to reduce your bills. It can be extremely hard to tell how much energy you are using, with most homes being stuck with simple meters that aren’t easy to understand. Smart meters can help to solve this problem, providing you with the means to measure your energy consumption on a moment-by-moment basis.
Many of the energy providers offering tools like this are also able to provide advice and support when it comes to reducing your energy consumption. This makes it easier for normal people to make a difference without having to change their lifestyle or the appearance of their home, making it a great choice for anyone living in a developed country. In some places, like the UK, tools like this are becoming a legal requirement.
Relying On Nature
Nature can be another powerful tool for those who want to improve their environmental impact. Many people don’t realize it, but the world around them can make it much easier to avoid high energy bills. There are loads of ways to achieve a goal like this, and you can use your creative skills to push this much further than the ideas in this blog. Let’s take a look at some of the options you have.
Heated By The Sun: As most people know, the sun is an immensely powerful body. Even on a cold day, you can feel the heat of this burning giant when its rays touch your skin. By allowing this light into your home, you can increase the ambient temperature by as much as a couple of degrees, lowering your reliance on heating.
Natural Shade: Shade is also a powerful tool for those who want to reduce their energy usage. Planting trees to create natural shade can make it easier to live without tools like air conditioning during the summer. This is only really important in places where heat is a major issue each year.
Wind Power: Wind can be a good alternative to shade when you are trying to keep your home cool. Opening windows to allow air to circulate can be a great way to reduce the temperature in your home, making your air conditioning’s life much easier.
Using Renewable Power
There is a major focus on renewable power across the world in the modern age. Many people are yet to invest in technology that allows them to use renewable energy sources, and this is something that needs to change in the coming years to ensure that the global climate is able to settle. You have a couple of options that can be used for this, and you don’t have to change the appearance of your property to make them work.
Installing Power Sources: There are a lot of options on the market for those who want to generate their own power at home. You don’t need to install ugly solar panels to make this work, though, with many companies coming out with panels that can be disguised as regular roof tiles. From the ground, these tiles will look completely natural.
The Right Provider: Many of the world’s energy providers have switched to renewable sources for their energy. This means that changing to a new provider can give you the chance to make sure that your electricity is sourced responsibly, all without having to spend a fortune in the process.
Swapping To Low-Energy Technology
Many of the tools that use electricity in a modern home aren’t designed with the environment in mind. This can be very bad for the planet and is something that you should be working hard to overcome within your own property. Thankfully, you can replace most of the technology in your home with options that don’t use much power, reducing your bills while also leaving the appearance of your home untouched.
Lighting: The lights in your home are one of the best places to look when you are trying to reduce your power consumption. LED bulbs use far less power than their older counterparts, giving you the chance to reduce your energy usage by a huge degree by swapping to them.
Appliances: Appliances, like washing machines and air conditioning units, often come with energy ratings attached to them. Choosing those with the best energy ratings is a good way to ensure that you are using as little power as possible. This can cost more when you buy your appliances but will lower your energy bills in the long run.
Computers: Most people won’t consider their computers when they are trying to lower their energy usage. In reality, though, these machines can use huge amounts of power. Switching from large desktops to laptops can be a good way to solve this, all without limiting your functionality.
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to lower your energy bills without having to make your home look bad in the process. It will always be worth working hard on areas like this, ensuring that your home looks as good as possible for years to come. Of course, though, you need to make sure that you are putting enough effort into this to ensure that the impact you make is large.
No comments