Changes for a More Sustainable Home
You can make certain changes to have a more efficient and sustainable home. From choosing the right materials, which should be eco-certified, to knowing how to use them efficiently and avoid waste.
When you think about making a change in your home, the main thing you usually take into consideration is the economic factor. Sometimes the amount of energy you save from choosing to make your home more sustainable may not even cross your mind.
By taking into account a few tips as you make changes, you’ll reduce the impact of your home on the environment. You can find many material alternatives on the market that’ll help with this task.
We recommend using sustainable solutions and analyzing, and applying these in the living areas wherever feasible. You must keep in mind you should make these changes regarding energy consumption. Of course, you don’t have to do everything at once.
Next, we’ll give you some tips so you can start planning and choosing where to make changes to make your home more sustainable. With these, you’ll also help take care of the environment.
Eco air conditioning to maximize thermal insulation
Thermal insulation is one of the things you should consider if you want your home to be sustainable. Without a doubt, this is one of the most economical investments you can make.
For example, you can opt for an insulation alternative such as pressed cork plates, especially if they’re produced locally. You can also find other environmentally responsible alternatives such as insulation sheets made of plant material.
All of these are an excellent alternative to traditional expanding polystyrene or polyurethane sheets. These materials, in addition to being sustainable, provide greater thermal comfort and excellent acoustic insulation.
Changing the windows
As you’ve read above, thermal insulation is essential, since poor insulation creates a temperature transfer to the outside. As a result, it increases your consumption every time you turn on a heater or an air conditioner.
To prevent this, install double- or even triple-pane windows in your home. If this isn’t possible, make sure the windows are perfectly sealed. You can close any gaps with a silicone gun.
The front door is another place where the temperature escapes. You can avoid this with a rubber barrier that can close the lower gap. With this, you won’t only prevent the entry of dust and dirt, you’ll also help maintain the temperature of your home.
In terms of windows, we recommend swing or tilt-and-turn windows as they fit better than sliding windows.
Low-consumption appliances for a more sustainable home
When buying an appliance, make sure its energy rating label has an A+ rating or higher. Just by doing this, you can quickly and safely improve your energy consumption.
Appliances must display the energy label, whether they’re refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, televisions, light bulbs, air conditioners, or vacuum cleaners.
Many older houses still have lead pipes, which are no longer used because they pollute the water. Others have copper pipes, whose welding points are equally polluting.
The current alternative is PVC pipes. Although they don’t pollute the water, their production is highly toxic and you can’t recycle them. It’s not worth changing your PVC pipes if your home already has them.
If this is your case, you’ll have to focus on implementing water-saving systems. This is because using ceramic or stainless steel pipes, although friendly to the environment, is very expensive.
When talking about water-saving systems, we must take into account the use of a water softener at the source of the installation. With it, you can extend the life of your household appliances. Also, install taps with a spray nozzle (which has water-saving filters). Separately, install toilets with a controlled discharge cistern.
Wall paint
Painting the walls might just be the most common and recurring things you can do when it comes to making changes. But, it can equally impact your health and the environment.
You shouldn’t forget the importance of paint and that, by choosing the right one, you’ll be able to prevent contamination and harmful emissions. As a recommendation, don’t skimp on your budget while painting.
With good paint selection, you’ll avoid problems with the walls. Don’t forget this also applies to varnishes. These are mainly used in laminated woods or when repairing wooden floors and furniture.
Efficient lighting for a more sustainable home
To make your lighting more efficient, you must prioritize the entry of natural light in addition to installing LED lights. If you have the option of completely remodeling, don’t forget to study the location of any light sources.
Don’t hesitate to replace incandescent bulbs and halogen lamps, since they use transformers to operate. These generate electromagnetic fields, which can be harmful, but above all, they’re not very efficient from an energy-saving perspective.
As you can see, you can generate significant savings in addition to turning your home into a more sustainable place just by applying certain measures. You’ll also be contributing to saving the planet and the environment.
Thanks for reading.