The UK is aiming towards a low-carbon future and as well as building new low-carbon homes, the other way to improve the nation’s green profile is to make sure than any renovations you carry out are also eco-friendly.
Here are six of the greenest renovation projects you can do – both for your home and for the planet.
Add more insulation
Many of us plan to install renewable heating in the next few years, but until you get your hands on that air source heat pump, the next best thing you can do is to insulate your loft and your cavity walls. Up to 40% of your home’s heat can be lost through your walls and your loft, leading to you turning up that thermostat and using up more fossil fuels.
Add an extra layer to your windows
Your windows can cost you up to 10% of your heat, in addition to the 40% you could lose through your loft and walls. If you have any single-glazed windows, replace them with double-glazed or triple-glazed windows. If you’re somewhere particularly cold or windy, then you can use window units filled with a low-conductivity gas such as argon.
Install solar panels
One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to install solar panels or a solar water heater (or both). Advances in solar tech mean that you can still generate power on a cloudy day, so don’t imagine that solar panels are only for places like California and Australia!
Install a renewable heating system
Most of your home’s energy goes into keeping it warm, so by installing a renewable method of heating, you’ll be making a big dent in your carbon emissions. There are ground source heat pumps or air source heat pumps, as well as biomass boilers which use sustainable fuel and which can also heat up your water.
Use as many reclaimed or recycled building materials as possible
Using reclaimed construction materials keeps them out of landfill (as well as usually being much cheaper for you!) and as such is good for the environment.
You can become a regular at your local reclamation yard or you can make friends with the builders working on a nearby project so you can source old bricks or timbers, for example.
Use eco-friendly paints
Nowadays there are lots of paints, varnishes and waxes that are environmentally-friendly, as well as sustainable wallpapers made from cotton, hessian and even wool.
