Your house is your castle. It can be satisfying to make improvements that make it more liveable. But in today’s age, you have a responsibility to examine the nature of these improvements. If you can complete them sustainably, you are doing your bit for the environment and saving some money in the long run. For example, the more energy-efficient your home, the less drain it is on resources, meaning you will save money on your power bill.
So, if you love DIY and the environment, then this list of eco-friendly home improvements is sure to appeal.
Insulation Station
It’s almost the beginning and the end of the discussion. Without proper insulation, you can save energy or eco-improve your home all you like, but the battle will always end in your defeat.
The purpose of insulation is to create a thermal wrap around your home, trapping the heat inside – the heat you are paying for!
A properly insulated house can shave up to $400 off your annual power bill; this is not only good for the environment and your wallet but great for the overall health of your family. A warm and cosy helps to keep the winter ills at bay!
Window Rejuvenation
You might exit your house through the front door, but most of the heat in your home leaves through the windows. Investing in double glazing is one of the best ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption and will go a long way to improving insulation overall.
If the budget doesn’t extend to double glazing, consider replacing the rubber seals on your aluminium windows or fitting draft exclusion products to wooden frames.
Curtains are another great way to keep the heat in after nightfall. Invest in high-quality thermal curtains that fit your windows as they should. Be sure to draw the curtains during the daylight hours to allow the natural light and warmth of the sun to pour in.
Shine Some Light On It
Lighting accounts for as much as 15% of your monthly power bill. A cost-free and straightforward solution to reducing your dependency on electric lighting is to prune any trees that may be blocking natural light from your windows. More natural light, less need to reach for the light switch.
Standard light bulbs are not energy-efficient, so why not try an LED version?
LED bulbs use 80% less power than their traditional counterparts, and they last longer. There will be an initial investment to swap out all of your light bulbs for LED, but you will see a reduction in your energy usage. So over time, you will make your money back, and some!
Get Out on the Floor
Whether you are building or looking to replace existing flooring, choosing options like bamboo or cork are both fabulous eco-choices.
Bamboo grows to maturity in five years versus the 20 years it takes for a standard tree to reach the preferred age for milling. And what’s more, bamboo absorbs five times more carbon dioxide than any other tree species.
Cork floor tiles represent the ultimate in upcycling. Essentially a waste product, the leftovers from wine bottle cork production, cork is also a renewable resource. Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark is stripped from the tree, leaving the tree standing to regenerate new bark over time – usually six to nine years.
A Lofty Goal
Insulation is not the only consideration when it comes to your roof space. Do you, or could you have the makings of a wonderfully cosy loft room? Loft conversions can be a great way to add value to your home and maximise the energy-efficient space available.
Move It Outdoors
One of the most common outdoor improvements is overhauling your driveway or patio area. If this is on your to-do list, then consider using permeable pavers. Permeable pavers allow excess water to drain away more quickly, but they filter out harmful pollutants meaning water can be collected and reused.
You can create an ecosystem in your backyard and minimise the potentially damaging effects of floodwaters.
Another simple outdoor hack is to connect a small collection tank to your downpipe to capture rainwater. While this won’t be enough water to run your home, it will be the perfect amount to water your garden or wash your car. With water restrictions pegged to be ongoing in the coming years, this simple eco-solution is a keeper.
Go Solar
Capturing solar energy to heat your hot water is probably the most widely recognised eco-improvement you can make. This free, clean and renewable resource does the job while delivering countless environmental and financial benefits. Enough said.
We are a passionate bunch of DIY enthusiasts here in New Zealand. Many of our homes fail to meet the standard of what now constitutes a healthy home; this fact alone should compel us to prioritise function over aesthetics.
Whatever your motivation – health, financial or environmental – a few simple improvements will make a WORLD of difference.