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In the past few years attention to global warming has increased, partly because the world is waking up to the climate crisis we’re arguably already suffering from. Alongside a sleuth of other benefits, making your home more sustainable is a great way to be eco-friendly and cut down on your financial bills.
Here are 5 benefits of making your home more sustainable:
Improved quality of life
If you suffer from illnesses such as asthma, eczema or headaches, household toxins could be to blame. Rot such as damp, mould and dust can also contribute to allergies, so making your house more sustainable can lead to noticeable health benefits.
Having proper insulation will ensure that your house is warm, dry and properly ventilated, which lowers the chance of mould growth and prevents energy loss.
Protecting the environment
Making your home more sustainable is a great contribution to protecting the environment and lowering your carbon footprint. In 2016, homes were responsible for more than 15% of greenhouse gas emissions, so if we all do a little, it can go a long way.
The money you save by making simple switches directly translates into fewer greenhouse gasses being emitted. For example, LED light bulbs use up to 80% less power than standard ones. When less energy is used, less is needed to be produced.
Small steps in making your home sustainable helps to protect the planet for future generations and lowers your carbon footprint. With more natural disasters occurring, knowing that you’re making a conscious effort to be more energy efficient is a significant benefit.
Lower your operating costs
Sustainable homes are, well, sustainable. People may immediately think that switching to more energy efficient measures will come with a big increase in installation and running costs, when this just isn’t the case.
It is true that larger appliances such as insulation and solar panel installation will be more expensive, but the savings you’ll make in the longer term will make up for it. Energy efficient purchases and behaviour have been shown to reduce utility bills and household running costs. Small installations such as water meters, programmable thermostats, LED light bulbs are simple and cheaper to install, and you’ll notice the financial benefits almost instantly.
Increase your property value
With more attention being paid to sustainability recently, it’s no surprise that prospective homebuyers are considering energy efficiency when searching the market.
Homes that are energy efficient are likely to sell for a higher price, as a home is an investment, being able to promise sustainability is an attractive prospect. Being able to market your home as energy efficient also means you can promise lesser maintenance costs, which is also good financially.
New homes are being built more sustainability, so making your current one energy efficient is important to keep up with the property market. New homes in Darlington are being built with sustainable materials, water-saving appliances and smart meters, so making simple changes will help you to keep up with what the market is looking for.
Protect yourself from rising energy prices
In April 2022, the price cap that energy companies are allowed to charge increased. This meant that most household’s energy bills increased by 54% and are likely to increase again in October.
Looking into ways to cut your energy usage can help protect you from the steep financial implications of rising energy bills, and can help protect the environment. Small things such as using LED light bulbs, turning off devices that aren’t being used and improving your insulation can help you cut down on your costs.
Another way to cut your energy usage is to check the efficiency of your appliances. Most electrical appliances have efficiency labels, these labels can tell you the energy rating and the use in kWh. Replacing all your appliances with efficient ones can be expensive, but it’s something to keep in mind when you’re looking for a new microwave.
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