With summer set to officially start today in the UK and thermometers surpassing 30 degrees, Brits will be starting to think where to enjoy a cold beer, where they can go on holiday or where’s the best place to try and catch some sun during the working week. Having more free time, many may also be thinking about how to make their home more energy efficient, and still make the most of the good weather.
With eco-friendly or green home implementation set to increase by 40% by 2021, many homeowners might want to start adapting their homes to make them more sustainable. However, getting started and taking the first step can be a struggle.
They don’t need a newly designed eco-home with all the latest mod-cons to be green. Hometree has provided some simple adjustments to make a home eco-friendlier and save money.
- Change the taps
Tap aerators are cheap and easy to install, and greatly reduce the flow of water out of your taps. Homeowners can also put in a low flow showerhead.
- Insulate hot water pipes
Pipe insulations and water heater blankets help water heaters work less to heat water.
- Install an eco-friendly boiler
Older boilers can be inefficient, polluting and rather expensive to run. Switching to a green system can be expensive to install but save money in the long run.
- Insulate, insulate, insulate
A very common issue that often gets overlooked. Draughts from windows, doors and chimneys cause temperatures to drop and bills to rise.
- Don’t waste water on the garden
With summer around the corner the garden will need a drink. A rain barrel, collecting rainwater from your pipes, should give enough to keep plants happy, especially this spring.
- Upgrade to double glazing
Single glazed windows can lose approximately 20% of your home’s heat. Double glazing also insulates against noise transfer.
- Keep your blinds closed
With the warmer months approaching, it’s easy to want to keep the house cool with the use of a fan. But utilising blinds and curtains can also prevent overheating.
- Opt for energy efficient appliances
Knowing which appliances churn through power can help reduce overall energy consumption.