In the current climate, it is only natural that so many people are looking for more sustainable and cost-effective options when it comes to the quality of their home life.
When buying a property, we are often driven by the charming aesthetic and character over the logistics and functionality of the property and its subsequent environmental impact. But that’s changing…
Not only are we facing the enormous pressures of climate change and humanitarian crises, but also a number of price hikes, which are bound to instil fear about the rising cost of living.
So, whether you’re using this article as a checklist for a new home, or simply to review the changes you can make to improve your property’s eco-friendly status, we’ve highlighted the most popular solutions to improve your home’s cost efficiency and carbon footprint:
Saving money and reducing your carbon footprint are not often goals we think can align, but in this case, it can work wonders.
Smart meters are enabling homeowners across the UK and beyond to have complete control over their spending, with real-time updates that allow you to track and reduce your energy consumption while simultaneously saving money.
According to the Express, energy experts have confirmed that smart meters can save the average household about £75 in energy bills.
This hassle-free solution takes automatic readings every half an hour (average) to give you an accurate understanding of your overall energy consumption and guides you to understand the costs associated with certain devices and appliances, aiding your ability to achieve a low-carbon lifestyle.
The sun is one of the biggest sources of power we have, so to ignore the benefits of solar energy would be silly.
Solar panels, or solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are responsible for converting solar energy into usable electricity. Made up of a number of smaller scale solar cells, the panels work in a grid to change sunlight to electricity through activated photons and electrons.
Despite the initial cost associated with solar panel installation, the Energy Saving Trust suggests that depending on your location, roof slope, shading, and roof direction, you could make savings of up to £500 per year.
However, there are a number of businesses in the UK operating solar panel grants to make these switches more affordable.
Double glazing is a fantastic addition to a property and can have a huge impact on overall energy efficiency, cost, and carbon footprint.
Acting as a protective element to stop heat escaping from the property, double glazing can save you money on expensive heating bills and reduce your carbon footprint through improved insulation.
The Energy Saving Trust details that heat is lost over twice as fast through single glazing as it would be through double glazing, predicting that a detached property with A rated double glazing could save up to £145 per year on gas bills and reduce carbon dioxide by 335kg.
Maximising the efficiency of your boiler is the best way to ensure you’re keeping your energy consumption and bills low.
We all know that UK winters are no fun, and the cold can set in fast, so ensuring that your boiler is working efficiently to heat your home is imperative to successfully reducing the associated costs.
Despite seemingly high upfront costs associated with having a new boiler installed or an existing boiler serviced, the long-term savings and safety you’ll experience with a fully functioning modern boiler will convince you that it’s worth the upfront spend.
While some of these solutions do have upfront costs associated with energy savings, the immediate eco-friendly impact and long-term cost savings are also tried and tested.
There are of course a number of other things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your property to reduce your carbon footprint and the relative costs of running a home, but the options above are known to have the most impact.
All properties are different, and while some homes may be perfect for the eco-friendly tips above, there will be others that are just not suitable for the changes suggested.
It’s best to look into this when viewing properties to ensure you are aware of what is achievable with the property type and location.
