Steps You Can Take to Become More Sustainable

Do you worry that your home isn’t quite as sustainable as it could be? Maybe you want to make a change but don’t quite know where to start, and don’t want to overhaul everything. Either way, this guide will tell you everything you need to know, so you can start making positive changes with ease.

Focus on the design and layout of your house

One of the first things you need to do is focus on the fabric of your house. The design of the house will always have a direct impact on its energy efficiency. The materials, the components and even the performance of the building are often given priority over things like the positioning of the doors and windows. If you want to do something about this then simply give priority to things like this first. If you want to make changes to your existing home, you can follow the same process. You just need to think about whether or not an upgrade is needed across the whole house or whether you need to target specific areas. If you do upgrade your windows, make sure you give some thought to buying some energy efficient windows and doors, as this could make a major difference to your home in terms of heat loss, so keep that in mind.

Reuse what you have

You also need to take steps to reuse what you have. This can be a very simple thing to do but it can make a major difference. Reusing and even recycling certain building materials will help you a lot if you want to get creative with your design scheme. If you have bricks from elsewhere then you may be able to get crafty and make your own planter area. If you have old timber floors then you may want to use this to your advantage by taking them up and then making some paneling out of them. By doing this, you will soon find that you can create new cladding. Things like this are great if you want to recycle and you would be surprised at what a difference it could make to your property.

Choose low VOC paint

You also need to make sure you are using low-fume paint. Low VOC paints are always a good choice as they do not contain any volatile organic compounds. These are damaging to both your health and the environment, so you have to make sure that you are avoiding them if possible. When it comes to paint, one thing to take note of is that the fumes are only released when the paint is entering its drying stage. After this point though, small amounts will be released over time which can put you in a very dangerous position.

Shop local

Another thing you can do is try and shop locally where you can. When you shop locally, you will soon find that you use less fuel and that it also costs less fuel to get your products from the farm to the supermarket. If you travel somewhere and buy produce that comes from a country like Columbia then it’s not hard to see how many emissions were created just to get this produce to your door. If you want to negate this then shopping locally is imperative.

Upgrade your insulation

Another thing you need to do is take the time to upgrade your insulation. Adding or upgrading your insulation is one of the best and most effective ways for you to improve how sustainable your home is. It stops heat from being lost through your walls and this can result in even more savings. It also helps you to use less energy, which is great for the environment. If you can’t afford to do this then getting some spray foam insulation could be a good option. Investing in things like blackout curtains will also help you as it means that you don’t lose as much heat through your windows. If you can give thought to things like this then it will help you to achieve the level of sustainability you are looking for.

So as you can see, it’s entirely possible for you to take steps to make your home more sustainable if you know where to start. Why not see if you can make a difference today, so you can make sure that you are always moving in the right direction, and doing your bit for the environment? Remember, you can always get an energy audit done on your home, if you feel as though you are having a hard time pinpointing where you can save the most money.

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