How to Make Your Property More Eco-Friendly

There are many reasons to make your property more environmentally friendly, from reducing your energy bills to minimising your carbon footprint to having a more attractive property in today’s market. These are different ways to make your property more eco-friendly and what they achieve.

Preventing heat loss

• Insulate your property

  Poor insulation is one of the main sources of heat loss, insulating your roof, walls and floors is one of the best ways to reduce energy waste in your property. It is worth evaluating your current insulation to see if upgrading it is necessary and then you can consider eco-friendly types of insulation such as wood fibre, hemp or wool.

• Make doors and windows airtight

  Making your property more airtight will help keep more heat in and reduce the output of your heating system. You can draught-proof them by sealing gaps with weather stripping. It is also important to ensure the property is still being ventilated so it is wise to check with a specialist before beginning.

• Double or triple glaze windows

  Double or triple glazing your windows can help to minimise energy loss and reduce condensation in your property. Double glazing is cheaper but triple glazing has better heat retention which could make a significant difference to your energy bills.

• Resolve damp issues

  Damp walls conduct heat, removing it from rooms, which puts more strain on heating systems to compensate. Damp problems often require open windows for ventilation which results in more heat loss. Installing passive air vents can be placed to regulate indoor temperatures and replace stale air with fresh air, reducing condensation and preventing mould growth without losing heat.

Energy-efficient heating

• Heat pumps

  Heat pumps extract heat from the air, the ground or water outside and then distributes this throughout your property. A small amount of energy is used to compress the heat for property heating and hot water. Their low running costs and sustainable sources make this an attractive heating choice.

• Smart meter

  Seeing an accurate record of the energy being used in your property, also knowing how much it costs, can help you adjust and optimise your energy usage. Smart meters track this throughout the day which can be seen easily on the digital display. This is especially helpful if you see spikes in cost, alerting you to high energy usage or faulty appliances.

Solar energy

• Solar panels

  Solar energy is a great energy bill saver and investment for property owners.  They do require sun to generate electricity, but cloudy days also work as they don’t need direct sunlight. It is important to be aware that solar panels require a costly upfront investment, which should be considered when looking at eco-friendly energy sources.

• Solar water heating

  Solar panels can also be linked to your heating system as a cost-effective way to heat your water. It can be linked to existing boilers to revert to your previous heating system if there are any problems or in winter when there is less sunlight for power.

Saving water

• Low-flow faucets, toilets and shower heads

  Low-flow fixtures use significantly less water than typical fixtures. They help to decrease water consumption while maintaining a comfortable amount of water pressure. Using less water will lessen your water and electricity bills as less water will need to be heated. They are affordable and easy to install.

• Rain water conservation system

  Rain water conversion systems collect and store rain water to repurpose for non-drinking use such as toilet flushing or watering plants. It can help reduce water consumption and costs by utilising rain water instead where possible.

Eco-friendly products

• Light bulbs

  Eco-friendly light bulbs are more energy efficient, lasting far longer than regular light bulbs. They are affordable with a variety of different types to fit your property type and needs. LED bulbs are much more efficient than halogen or incandescent bulbs as they generate little heat despite being very bright.

• Energy rated appliances

  Many common appliances have energy rating labels, the current label ratings are A to G and you will want to be conscious about buying appliances that are closer to A. Appliances closer to A are more energy efficient which reduces your energy costs.

• Cleaning products

  Increasing your use of eco-friendly cleaning products will reduce your carbon footprint. Biodegradable or non-toxic cleaning products lessen your environmental impact in harm to wildlife and water pollution. In addition, it reduces exposure to harmful chemicals for yourself, staff and any occupants.

• Composting bins

  Providing a composting bin in the garden can allow occupants to dispose of food waste without sending it to landfills through their rubbish. Organic waste is turned into compost instead which can be used to fertilise garden spaces.

In conclusion, taking steps to make your property eco-friendly is incredibly helpful. Especially considering the increasing energy bills which make saving energy where possible essential. Investing in any of the mentioned eco-friendly solutions will reduce your property’s carbon footprint and help you gain more property interest. Eco-friendliness in properties has been an increasing trend that is a great attractive selling point to eco-conscious renters.