Today, more and more homes are finding ways to make their house more energy-efficient. Furthermore, making your home more eco-friendly can do great things for your budget because a sustainable home design makes much better use of natural resources than others.
Today’s article lists eight ways to make your home more eco-friendly that are easy on the eyes and kind to your bottom line. Fortunately, you don’t even have to build a new home to achieve this! It’s easy to get started and one improvement will quickly add to another as the savings stack up.
1) Outdoor Blinds
Outdoor blinds effectively reduce a home’s energy consumption and utility bills by providing shade during summer days to drastically reduce the heat, glare, and UV rays that enter the room. In the winter, outdoor blinds serve as tough and sturdy protective barriers against the cold air, winds, and rain.
Similar results can be gained with Roof to Fence Blinds as aside from the additional privacy they’re a great way to significantly reduce the sun on the side of your house.
Folding Arm Awnings are also a quick and easy way to cut back afternoon sun. As folding arm awnings are often motorised you can quickly cut back the heat with the flick of a switch.
2) Solar Panels
The low cost of solar panels, good government rebates and rising electricity prices are all factors that make solar panels an affordable and premium product to make your home more eco-friendly. The benefits of using solar panels are simple – it draws and keeps energy from sunlight, which is free and uses the stored energy to power your home. The more panels you install, the more you can save.
With electric cars on the way and in home batteries fast becoming affordable now is the time to get solar if you haven’t already.
3) Window Treatments
Windows are wonderful for letting natural light into the home, but they also impact room temperatures. For example, windows and glass doors can affect the heating and cooling of your home by up to 40% with the air from outside entering and internal air escaping.
You can reduce the heat through windows with a simple UV tint or further again by replacing the windows and glass with double glazed alternatives. You can even install a second window behind your original to create your own low-cost double-glazing without removing your existing windows.
4) Indoor Curtains and Blinds
With the right indoor curtains and blinds, you can further reduce the negative effect of windows on the home’s temperature. Many people install blinds in rooms that become warm during the summer. A closed blind keeps the sunlight out and helps to keep the room cool during the day–reducing the air conditioning costs of bringing the temperatures down.
Internal mesh blinds that sit behind curtains can be a great way to stop the heat and the UV rays whilst allowing a lot of light through. You won’t feel like you’re living in the dark… or a furnace!
5) Replace Existing Lights with LEDs
Although the initial investment in LED lights is higher than traditional lighting, they will save you a lot of money in the long run. They use less energy and last up to 50 times longer. You can find LED lights for every room in your house, including outdoor lights. LED Lights now also come in warmer colours to give your home a more natural feel.
6) Install a Solar Hot Water System
Solar hot water systems are another great way to make your home eco-friendly and reduce your energy bills. They work by using the sun’s energy to heat water, which is then stored in a tank ready for use.
Solar hot water systems are perfect in Australia where we have an abundance of sunlight. Best of all the systems have a backup power source (gas / electricity) so if the sun isn’t shining you can still enjoy a nice hot shower.
7) WaterWise Toilets, Taps, & Showerheads
An easy way to start saving water in your home is to install WaterWies toilets, taps, and showerheads. You can save thousands of litres of water per year with these simple changes that won’t significantly change your experience in using them. There are even new high pressure misting showerheads that have a great shower feel without the huge water bill.
8) Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting rainwater from rooftops and storing it for future use. This water can be used for watering plants, cleaning the house, or even flushing toilets.
If you aren’t running rainwater tanks, now is a great time to start not only will you be doing your bit for the environment, but you’ll also save money on your water bill.
There is also a big boom in “Thin Tanks” rainwater tanks designed to fit into small areas that also look great when they’re in visible spaces. Some designs even feature garden walls along the face allowing you to use the water directly on your own fresh herbs and vegetables.
These are just a few ways that you can make your home more eco-friendly without breaking the bank or compromising on style. With a little effort, you can create a beautiful and sustainable home that is good for the environment.
For a few more quick ideas check out the infographic below:
Lastly, if you’ve been thinking about Outdoor Blinds why not get in touch. All About Shade is the number one provider for Outdoor Blinds, Ziptrak® Blinds, and Roof to Fence Blinds in the Greater Perth Region.
We provide a 5-year guarantee, with a range of colours and styles to suit your home for a reasonable price. To arrange a free quote, simply fill out the free quote form or contact a member of our team today.
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