Top 6 Eco-Friendly Home Improvements in 2021
If like a lot of other Aussies you’re worried about the climate crisis, here are 6 simple things you can do to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
It’s no secret that Australians are worried about climate change. In all states and territories, the environment ranks as people’s most pressing concern, a worry that was likely amplified by the 2020 bushfire crisis. But, with it being such a huge issue, it’s difficult to know what we as individuals can do.
Making our homes more environmentally friendly is a good place to start. Our homes use an awful lot of energy to stay well-lit and at just the right temperature. So, eco-friendly home design is a great way of mitigating the impact that has on the planet.
How to Be Eco-Friendly At Home
Being eco-friendly at home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, in the long run, being more energy-efficient can save you money. However, you will have to spend a bit to implement the changes. It’s so worth it though. With just a few tweaks from the bottom to the top of your house, you can make a big difference.
Eco-friendly homes are smarter, more energy-efficient, and far more sustainable. You can make your home greener either through small switches or big alterations, depending on what makes sense for you. In other words, there are lots of ways to make your house eco-friendly in Australia.
The Best Eco Friendly Home Improvements in Australia
Eco-friendly homes in Australia come in all sorts of different forms. Many are being built from scratch, while others receive innovative renovations as new technologies become available. Here are just six of the simplest eco-friendly home improvements for you to try.
Renewable Energy
Why rely on wasteful, polluting energy sources to power your house? It’s becoming ever-clearer that solar power is the way of the future. And, here in Australia, we get more than enough sun to make solar panels worth your while.
Admittedly, you will have to splash the cash a bit to get new panels installed. However, they’re incredibly efficient and will last for almost three decades. So, over time, you could end up saving more than you spent. Add to that the fact that they reduce your carbon footprint, and you’ll see why they’re becoming so popular.
Smart Meters
Keeping on top of your energy consumption isn’t always easy. Particularly when the weather is at extremes, it’s easy to crank up the AC or heating and leave it. If that rings true for you, consider installing a smart meter. They’re one of the simplest eco-friendly home improvements there is, giving you a real-time look at your energy consumption. So, if you’re burning through too much, you’ll know when to turn it off.
Double or Triple Glazing
Chances are, you’ll want to keep your home cosy in the winter. This is especially true if you live in an area where temperatures drop down to 5ºC. But, rather than rely on radiators to do all the work for you, you could instead install more efficient windows.
Thanks to double or triple glazing, you can keep in much more heat. With an estimated 40% of a home’s warmth being lost through the windows, you’re missing a trick if you don’t have thicker windows. For one thing, you’re likely to be more comfortable more of the time with double or triple glazing. For another, you’ll significantly reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
Dry Fixed Roofing
A house that gets too hot in the summer can be similarly uncomfortable. But, what many people don’t realise is that their roofs are trapping in excess heat. This heat then travels down into the house below and makes it stuffy with stale air. Thankfully, an innovative new technology called dry fixed roofing is here to change that.
Dry fixed roofing is a naturally ventilated type of roof. It creates an open ridge at the highest point which allows fresh air to pass in and back out again. So, cool air is constantly circulating beneath the tiles. This prevents heat from building up at the top of the house and reduces the temperature in the rooms below.
Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Energy-efficient light bulbs have gotten a bad rap over the years. But, these days, they are nowhere near as dim or slow to switch on. So, when you make the switch, the only differences you’ll notice between them and conventional bulbs will be positive ones. To begin with, they waste far less electricity. In addition, they last far longer, meaning you won’t need to replace them anywhere near as often.
Low Flush Toilets
Low flow toilets use significantly less water than the traditional toilets most people have in their homes. There are a couple of different types, including gravity-assisted, pressure-assisted, and dual-flush models. However, regardless of which you go for, make sure you find one with a high star rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the toilet is, with five-star dunnies using just three litres of water per flush.
The Importance of Eco-Friendly Home Design
As the implications of the climate crisis grow starker, there become fewer excuses for not being eco-friendly at home. And, given that it’s easier than it’s ever been to reduce the carbon footprint of your property, it makes sense to act now.
You could start small with energy-efficient lightbulbs, low flush toilets, and a smart meter. Or, if you have the money to spend, consider investing in a new, properly ventilated roof and some solar panels. Just remember that any change is a positive step, both for you and the world you inhabit.