Many people desire to live more eco-friendly lifestyles as their knowledge of our influence on the environment grows. ‘Green’ living, which was previously derided as a fad, is here to stay.
We have grown much more aware of what we can do to aid our planet, from converting to electric vehicles to limiting what we send to waste.
Despite the great improvements many of us are making, there are still those unaware of all the eco-friendly options available to them in their own homes. Here, we look at what sustainability elements an eco-friendly home should have, from solar panels to developing your kitchen garden.
Since its conception, LED lighting has gone a long way. Gone are the days when individuals sacrificed the brightness of their lighting to be more environmentally friendly. People may now enjoy LED lighting that is equally as strong as traditional alternatives while being significantly more environmentally responsible for their homes.
You may wonder how much more environmentally friendly it is. LED lighting consumes 70-80% less energy than traditional light bulbs, resulting in lower energy costs and a more energy-efficient home overall. They also last a lot longer, which means you’ll spend less time maintaining them.
You don’t have to forego elegance when it comes to energy-efficient lighting. There are a variety of exquisite solutions available for those wishing to add a touch of glitz to their homes.
In the evening, use sophisticated LED festoon lights to create a soft glow to your garden, ideal for outdoor socialising. Alternatively, add some wow factor to your interiors with unique, show-stopping LED crystal chandeliers.
Why not create and establish an organic vegetable garden to make your home even more environmentally friendly? Growing your veggies is fashionable right now.
Celebrities like Jack Gyllenhall, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, and Michelle Obama are avid gardeners who proudly display their abundant harvests on social media.
A kitchen farm, as the name suggests, allows you to transform a portion of your garden into a thriving fruit and vegetable nursery, as seen at many of the UK’s most opulent stately homes and estates.
It will also be just as aesthetically beautiful as the rest of your landscape if you incorporate elegant accents like raised beds and trellises. Imagine the joy of eating (or giving) your organic vegetables, freshly harvested and delicious, with no food miles on the clock.
It is simple to be more eco-friendly in the kitchen. When you open an oven door during cooking, you might lose a lot of heat. Even if the oven is only open for a short period, it will consume a lot of electricity to heat back up. The wasting of coffee pods is also a significant issue.
With billions of elegant metal and plastic capsules ending up in landfills in America each year, they might be contributing to a worldwide environmental calamity. Use an old-fashioned drip coffee machine to prepare your coffee.
Solar panels have been a go-to for individuals trying to be more ecologically conscious regarding their energy use. They are often the first thing that comes to mind when people think of eco-friendly solutions for their homes.
Solar panels are not only able to tap into the fantastic renewable energy source of solar energy, but they are also minimal maintenance, have a reasonably long average lifespan of 20-25 years, and may help you lower your carbon footprint significantly (and energy bills).
Solar panels may also add a touch of elegance to your home’s décor, with many UV panels replacing standard roof tiles for a more fashionable appearance.
While some of the industry’s largest names, such as Tesla, are pioneering solar panels, other interesting possibilities include solar energy windows, which generate power using UV panels embedded in your home’s windows.
Many of us rely on our heating systems more during the winter months.
Poor house insulation and heating means leaving it on higher settings for longer periods, wasting energy, and increasing your environmental footprint. Installing effective insulation is one solution, but geothermal heating is a popular alternative for eco-friendly houses.
Geothermal heating works by extracting heat from under the earth’s surface and utilising this incredible renewable energy source to warm your house.
Geothermal energy is captured in a compressor by a heat pump and circulated throughout your home. Have your house as warm as you want it without feeling bad about your energy consumption and its impact on the environment.
Not only does geothermal heating employ a renewable energy source, resulting in up to a 65 per cent reduction in energy bills when compared to standard heating techniques, but the energy source is also natural and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Once installed, it also requires very little maintenance.
When it comes to environmentally friendly homes, having your water supply is a great choice to consider. Installing your well in your yard, while it does need some design and landscaping, might be one of the most environmentally friendly upgrades you can make to your house.
Having your well means you’ll have fresh water anytime you need it, and you’ll be less reliant on tap water. It’s self-sufficiency at its finest, with decreased water costs and a steady and renewable source of water on your property. It’s also a terrific conversation starter with visitors.
Furniture may be costly. Therefore many people strive to find less-priced options. Investing in sustainable furniture early on, on the other hand, will not only benefit the environment but will also save you money in the long run because these pieces stay longer.
You may start small by including one piece per room, such as organic baby bedding for the nursery or a non-toxic and renewable office desk. You may even construct your eco-friendly furniture out of recyclable or salvaged materials if you want to save money.
Lastly, epoxy garage floors are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and require fewer chemicals to clean. There are certain varieties of organic Epoxy flooring that include no solvents and are made with organic resins and natural marble. This is one of the industry’s “greenest” floors.
These are the ways that will somewhat make your home eco-friendly. Be sure to apply some of them for a brighter future for the generations to come.
