3 Features That Could Be Missing From Your Eco Friendly House
Do you live in an eco friendly home? A lot of people like to think they do, what with their energy efficient appliances and the recycling system they abide by. But in reality, a lot of these homes end up far less environmentally focused than they aim to.
And this is a common problem. It’s good to have smart home devices in your house, such as a meter that keeps you in the loop on the amount of energy you’re using, but it might not be enough. You may have to extend your efforts further and start incorporating some more eco friendly design ideas into your space.
That’s the kind of thing we want to tackle in this post. If you’re keen to live in a truly eco friendly property and you’re willing to make some changes around the house, we’ve got a few things for you to look into.
Enough Insulation
Most homes come packed with insulation. It’s fitted into the walls, applied to the windows and doors, and your roof will always be made with the weather in mind. However, there’s a high chance your home doesn’t have as much insulation as it really needs.
That will lower the eco friendly nature of the property; you’ll be using the thermostat and the AC way more often and release more emissions in total every year. Similarly, your bills will suffer as a result too.
But how can you check that you’re living with the right level of insulation? Well, it’s all about spotting where the air leaks are, as well as taking factors like the age of your property into account. The older the home, the less insulated it’ll be by now.
And if you’re worried about using non-natural materials to insulate your home, we’ve got good news for you. You can invest in eco friendly materials for wall cavities and attics, such as recycled materials like paper and plastic, as well as many other types.
A Water System That Filters and Conserves
Wasted water should be a big no-no in any eco friendly home. However, the average amount of water that comes rushing out of a faucet is twice the amount you actually need to use. That’s why a water system that both filters your water and conserves the flow from the pipes is essential in the home.
You can invest very easily in an advanced water filtration system, and in doing so, ensure your home’s water is always clean and fresh and never carrying substances like limescale. You can also install an aerator on the faucet to prevent water from coming out all at once.
This little bit of kit separates the flow into streams, of which most head back into the system, and then mixes what does come out with air. That makes it feel like you’re still getting a good jet of water every time you turn the faucet on, and honestly, you’ll never notice the difference.
And you can add an aerator to every faucet or water source in your house, such as the showerhead or the bath. This will save water, lower your bills, and keep your home’s plumbing system clean at all times.
Natural Light Sources
Every home has windows in the rooms, and these windows light your home perfectly throughout the day. Yet, a lot of homes also suffer from small windows, or rooms that face away from the sun, which means a lot of the space stays dark.
As such, you need to use non-natural lighting more often, and that uses a lot more electricity than you may be comfortable with. That’s why a truly eco friendly home upgrades their windows, adds in skylights, and ensures there’s a flow through from one room to another. Let the light span the entirety of the house through a more open plan layout.
The more you can use the sun for what it’s really known for, the lower your home’s carbon output. And remember, natural light is always more pleasant than an energy saving bulb, especially if it’s the type that slowly warms up to its top illumination level.
Let’s Build an Eco Friendly Home
If you want to live in a house that puts the environment first, features like these are the ones to focus on. Add them to your home and make them part of daily life. Lower your water usage, always have clean water on hand, and light up all of your rooms with the sun!