In recent years, we’ve seen governments aim to lower carbon emissions and develop more sustainable, eco-friendly housing. In the case of the United Kingdom, there’s still a long way to go –
according to the July 2021 English Housing Survey, UK homes are the worst insulated in Europe, with up to two-thirds of English renters living in homes with dismal Energy Efficiency Ratings (EEFs) of D and lower. If you’re thinking of sprucing up your home with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind, take a look at these cost-effective, eco-friendly home renovation ideas:
How to make your home more environmentally friendly: The most effective eco-friendly UK renovation job is home insulation, which can go a long way in reducing energy bills and boosting the energy efficiency of your property. Home insulation may include everything from installing double glazing and loft insulation to wall insulation, floor insulation and replacing your existing central heating system with a single combi boiler unit. If your budget allows, consider installing a green roof, which encourages biodiversity, insulates the home and reduces carbon emissions all at once. When undertaking any larger-scale home renovation project, try to source sustainable green materials for the task, rather than wood, concrete, plastic or lead-based paint. If ‘green and clean’ raw materials are out of your grasp and you’re forced to use materials like wood for your renovation, consider going with high-grade recyclable wood such as plywood sheets and boards – if possible, try to use locally-sourced plywood made with adhesives that produce minimal VOC emissions.
Small changes to make in the home: If you don’t have the time or budget to conduct a thorough home improvement project, there are plenty of small changes you can make around the home to make your property more eco-friendly. These include replacing all lightbulbs with energy-efficient LEDs, checking and replacing faulty appliances, blocking draughts, limiting your use of hot water, recycling and upcycling existing household items, reducing your use of plastics, planting your own herbs and vegetables and only using energy when absolutely necessary.
Replace faulty and inefficient appliances: When sifting through household appliances, ensure that you only dispose of or recycle those that are faulty, old or clearly energy inefficient. While many older appliances may be bad for the environment, it’s counterproductive to dispose of those that are new or working perfectly. Make sure that you dispose of faulty appliances responsibly when the time comes.
