Eco-friendly homes are a big step for many of us trying to live more sustainable lives. Sure, we love the idea of living in an eco-friendly house, but when it comes to the reality it’s often a different story.
We’re pleased to say that living in an eco-friendly home needn’t be a far-off fantasy. From environmentally-friendly building materials and solar energy to passive design and passive solar, eco-friendly homes can be in reach to anyone. Whether you’re making small changes or going all out and planning to build your own home, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about eco-friendly homes.
Just add your eco-friendly, minimalist wardrobe!
If you’re planning on making small changes
Big impact comes from small changes. If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into having a sustainable home, making small tweaks to your house will make all the difference.
Swap to LED bulbs
Sure, it can be tempting to opt for cheap incandescents. But if you pay a little extra for LED bulbs, you’ll get up to 13 years out of them. Each!
Get a recycling bin
Hopefully, you have one already, but if you haven’t, a recycling bin is an absolute must in an eco-friendly home. Whether it’s empty jars or cardboard boxes, anything recyclable should not be finding its way into a landfill. Full stop.
Swap to a low-flow showerhead
Yes, well all love a powerful shower. But, we all know that we shouldn’t be wasting water, which is why it’s such a good idea to swap to a low-flow showerhead. Don’t worry, you can still get one with a powerful spray regardless of the restricted water use.
Grow your own veggies and herbs
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, a balcony or even windowsills that get lots of natural light, why not grow your own veggies and herbs? Not only will you save money, but you’ll reduce your carbon footprint too. And let’s face it, they’ll taste heaps better – no nasty pesticides or preservatives.
Get double glazed windows
If you haven’t already got them, double glazed windows are great for insulation, lessening the need to use heaps of energy heating your home. They also have the reverse effect in summer, preventing unwanted heat from entering your home. Another benefit of double glazed windows is the fact they reduce noise – perfect for blocking out those noisy neighbours or that dog that won’t quit barking across the street!
If you’re planning to build or buy
Lucky enough to be building or buying an eco-friendly home? You’ve got the luxury of ensuring your house is made with sustainable materials and built to be as environmentally-friendly as possible.
Go solar
When you’re thinking of building or buying an eco-friendly home, ensuring it’s solar powered is probably one of the first things that springs to mind. Solar hot water? Great idea. Solar panels? It goes without saying. And how about passive solar heating? That’ll, without doubt, save you money while helping save the environment. The options are endless when it comes to solar living!
Keep it compact
Keeping your house compact will ensure it’s as energy efficient as possible. With less space to cool or heat, the less energy you’ll use. This will save you money at the same time as being good for the environment! With the surge in tiny home living, there’s no need to always have a four or five bedroom house these days, especially if you only have two, one or no kids at all.
Invest in a water tank
A water tank is a fantastic sustainable practice to incorporate into your home for maximum sustainability points. Not just reserved for those living out in the country, a water tank will have a hugely positive environmental impact. When considering the best building practice to undertake to lower your carbon footprint, ensure to install a water tank.
Add roof windows and skylights
Building or buying a light-filled home makes it difficult to bypass air conditioning. But, with skylights and roof windows, it’s now a possibility. Solar-powered air conditioning will also naturally have a better impact on the environment, so ensure to add roof windows and skylights to your home that allow heaps of natural light to make it an effective sustainable building and improve your energy rating.
Consider passive design
Following on from our previous point, it’s important to consider the importance of passive design, especially when building your own eco-friendly house. Passive design utilises natural sources of heating and cooling, such as the sun and cooling breezes. Well-designed building reduces the need to spend money on heating and cooling down your home, better for your bank balance – better for the planet!
Now you know how to create an eco-friendly home, why not explore other ways to incorporate sustainability into your everyday life? From ditching plastic and eating less meat to the benefits of bamboo clothing for you and the environment, we’ve got you covered.
