Green Living: The Little Secrets to Making a Home Environmentally Friendly

It’s easy to say that when you want to make your perfect home, all you need to do is add a lick of paint and do a bit of renovating. But the fact of the matter is that renovating is hard work for the vast majority of us. And when we are looking to make a great home, it’s not just about making it aesthetically pleasing, but about making sure that it goes the distance. These days, environmentally-friendly properties are crucial, but how can we make our home eco-friendly, or how can we turn a different property into an eco-friendly palace? 

Is it an Older Property? 

One of the most effective ways to create a new home is to have a sturdier old one. When you look at the quality of an older property, it will have a lot of components in place that will be better for a long-lasting environmentally friendly house. For example, the walls will be sturdier, and thicker, allowing for better insulation. But there are downsides to an older property. Usually, this is in relation to older utilities. But you can make an older property more efficient by making a few simple swaps. Older properties tend to have old boilers and water heaters. But you can swap this for a tankless water heater. If you are looking for best tankless water heater suppliers, there are plenty to explore. An older property will always be a more effective starting point. While newer properties are built to be environmentally friendly in every single aspect, they don’t necessarily have the strength of older homes. 

Using Sustainable Building Materials 

There are a wide variety of options with regards to environmentally friendly building materials. You could find sustainably certified ones, as well as insulation comprising recycled materials. One of the benefits of selecting sustainable building materials is that you have the option to find the healthiest choices for you. For example, when you are looking for indoor materials, you may very well end up with carpeting or wall coverings. But these may release VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and pollutants. You can go for healthier alternatives like low VOC paints, therefore minimizing your exposure to toxic compounds that will greatly impact your health over time. 

Picking a Smaller Home 

One of the most important things to consider if you are looking to create an environmentally friendly property is the size. When you are looking to move into another property, it’s important to assess your needs in a realistic sense. We all think that bigger is better, however, smaller homes can extol an abundance of virtues. Smaller homes are very fashionable, but they have a variety of environmental advantages. For example, smaller homes will cost less to heat, and if you insulate these properties appropriately, you will always have a comfortable home. Some people may find that living in a small home is hard work, especially if you have a lot of possessions. However, this is where it is worth considering downgrading your lifestyle. Many people now embrace the minimalist way of life, and if you are looking to improve your quality of life, downgrading and downscaling everything can help you live a better quality of life. 

Conserving Your Water
Eco-friendly properties can help the environment by conserving water. But as the population increases, our water habits need to change. Even if you have a property that you just want to upgrade, there are a variety of kitchen fixtures that can make a massive difference. In the bathroom, you can utilize dual flush toilets to make your water supply go further. You may also want to look at your daily habits, especially if you need to shower twice a day. But this is where low-flow showerheads can come in handy. 

Making the Most of the Exterior 

It isn’t just about the interiors of the property. You can make changes to the exterior to make a significant impact on your immediate environment and the environment in general. For example, you can utilize rainwater by collecting runoff into rain barrels. You could use this to water your plants. You could also provide food, water, and essentials or wildlife. You may also want to consider choosing plant species that require little maintenance. Using plants with low watering needs means you won’t need to exert as much energy to fix up the space and make it environmentally friendly. 

Making your home environmentally friendly is not just about installing a couple of appliances. With careful planning, you can turn a property into an environmentally friendly home that goes the distance.

 

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