Sustainable living has become a bit of a buzzword in recent months. We’re all spending more time at home and the need to reduce our impact on the environment – and knock down those rising bills – is becoming apparent. The good news is that there are plenty of handy, and even some stylish, ways to reduce your carbon footprint at home. Here’s how.
Consider renewable energy
Reviewing the best ways to power your home is a great way to lower your carbon footprint. One simple change is switching to a clean energy provider. Sites like Big Clean Switch compare the best 100% renewable suppliers, who all generate their power from the elements such as the sun, wind, water and biofuels.
At our developments, we’ve been focused on incorporating new and innovative technology to make our homes as environmentally friendly as possible. At The Gables, Chequers and Borrow House Farm, we’ve opted for a mix of conventional central heating, alongside air and ground source heat pumps. These are virtually silent when operating and can rack up considerable savings in comparison to traditional oil-fired boilers.
Another option is solar power. As one of the most abundant and efficient sources of clean energy available, installing solar panels can help to lower your bills and even increase the value of your home too.
Upgrade to a smart thermostat
Turning your thermostat just 2 degrees cooler in winter and 2 degrees warmer in summer can make significant energy savings. To help, consider installing a smart thermostat such as Nest – a device that will automatically adjust the temperature in your home for optimum energy efficiency based on your behaviour patterns and desired temperatures at different days and times.
Use LED lightbulbs
LEDs open the door to plenty of interesting smart home features, including bulbs that change colour and ones that sync with your security or voice assistant system of choice. What’s more, they last much longer than incandescent bulbs and produce the same amount of light using significantly less energy!
Grow your own produce
For those who love spending time outdoors, setting up a fruit and vegetable patch is another small change you can make for the better. By getting in the garden and soaking up that Vitamin D, you’ll get to eat some delicious nutritional meals whilst reducing your shopping bill and packaging waste along with it.
Reduce water use
From taking shorter showers to handwashing dishes instead of using a dishwasher for small amounts of washing up, there are plenty of ways to lower your water consumption. You could even consider installing water-saving devices such as eco-friendly, low-flow shower heads and tap aerators.
Today’s choices will shape tomorrow’s world. To discuss how we can make some eco-friendly additions at our developments, get in touch with our team on 01420 560860.