Whilst many of us are taking steps to be more sustainable in our everyday lives, be it through taking public transport instead of driving, or purchasing ethically sourced clothing, we often forget about the very place we spend the most time, our home.
Not only is creating a sustainable household beneficial for the environment but also for a plethora of other reasons that would benefit your lifestyle. Here we will give you the top tips for maintaining a sustainable household and the major benefits that come along with it.
Reduced Energy Usage
There is nothing worse than being hit by a huge invoice for something in your home, so if running a sustainable home means reducing electricity bills then sign us up.
Often the word sustainability can be met with skeptical thoughts, it seems too hard and time-consuming for the everyday person, but there are so many simple swaps you can make to ensure your home is more durable that will benefit you and your wallet.
A simple starting point is switching your light bulbs out and opting for LED lighting instead. LED lights use 75% less energy than typical halogen lights which are appealing enough on their own however on top of that they last anywhere from five to ten times longer as well.
This reduces your waste and maintenance costs and is simply more convenient as they do not need to be changed as often.
Another great addition to your home is the installation of a cool roof. A cool roof will reflect the sun’s rays rather than letting it seep through and overheat the inside of your space, making it cooler for longer. However, it’s not just beneficial in terms of comfort, it will also majorly decrease your cooling bill.
Alternatively, if doing a mass switch-up of your home’s lighting or the installation of appliances seems a little too extensive for now, make simple changes like turning off your power plugs instead of leaving them on standby or purchasing power strips that automatically turn off when not in use will greatly decrease your energy usage over time.
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Less Maintenance and Durable Long-Term Design
Not only is running a sustainable household beneficial for the environment but it is in fact beneficial for you personally. When it comes to a sustainable home, green building materials, besides being better for the environment, are also more resistant to the elements, meaning it requires less upkeep over time.
Throughout time this will save you a considerable amount of money due to a reduced need for costly home repairs. As a result, it will also noticeably lessen your home’s environmental footprint.
If you’re already living in a household that is not especially sustainable or eco-friendly, when repairs start to come up there are multiple, simple ways in which you can improve its sustainability status that will benefit your home and your own quality of life.
Installing solar panels will create a constant benefit for your home. Solar panels generate electricity that can be used as power throughout the house. They are less expensive, more environmentally friendly, and produce clean and renewable energy, which would otherwise be spent on maintenance and upkeep.
Healthier Long-Term Living
One of the most important advantages to creating a more sustainable living space isn’t just the benefits to the environment but also the well-being of you and your family.
Choosing to build your home with eco-friendly and sustainable materials means ridding your home of harsh chemicals and possible environmental pollutants. Building with them means a safer environment for your family and your quality of life in the long term.
Creating your home with sustainability in mind is also going to lower your carbon footprint, something we should all be looking to do.
Being mindful of the environment and taking steps to make the future a safer place is something that should begin in the present, so a home that generates fewer carbon emissions and less pollution is one step closer to getting there.
Increased Property Value
When looking to purchase a home, many prospective buyers are looking for sustainable or eco-friendly spaces, as they offer so many benefits. From less maintenance over time to a more durable design, these properties are a hot commodity.
A non-sustainable household is more likely to require timely and expensive upkeep and therefore susceptible to plummeting worth.
If your home hasn’t been built with long-term sustainability in mind, there are several simple additions that you can make to your space in order to both increase the value and livability. Next time your taps are on the blink, install a water filter that cuts out microplastics.
This makes the water cleaner and more drinkable but also ensures you are not contributing to the addition of microplastics to the environment.
Have you ever found that no matter how high you have the heating on, your home still manages to have a chill running through it? Consider fixing your home’s insulation.
Consulting a professional on options such as installing insulating walls and floors will benefit your quality of life as well as the resale value and the long-term sustainability of your space, with proper insulation in the home, gone will be the days of overworked heating.
Greater Energy Efficiency
Are you looking to see if you’ve been blessed with a green thumb, but never found the time? Today’s the day you change that. An easy way to be more energy efficient within your home is to create a garden.
Group your plants of varying sizes closely together in order to generate shade on the soil for the smaller plants and minimize the amount of wind movement for the larger ones, therefore reducing the evaporation and improving moisture retention.
Another small change that can make a big difference is to install barrels as rainwater catchments. You can use the recycled water for varying tasks throughout your household.
Creating a sustainable household has endless benefits. It can help you personally save money, increase the value of your home, as well as the comfort of it; and finally, it is incredibly beneficial for helping to preserve the world we live in to create a brighter and more eco-friendly world.
