Modernising your family home with eco-friendly home upgrades

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Cultivating a better family home environment is a goal that unites millions of homeowners up and down the country. And while a successful home transformation can be defined by many characteristics, going green is at the top of the agenda.

Given that we spend more time at home than in any other setting, it is the perfect place to adopt a green lifestyle. Here are 10 eco-friendly home upgrades to modernise your house and garden.

1. Growing plants in the garden

It is impossible to think about green living without considering nature. Therefore, doing more with your outside spaces stands out as the perfect starting point for your transformation.

A month-by-month planting calendar will help you embrace nature with year-long results. You can take the rewards to another level by creating a space for growing fruit and veg.

Aside from plants, you can build a better ecosystem by welcoming birds, bees, and squirrels to your garden. This is easy to do with feeders and bird baths.

Simply spending more time in the garden will have a positive impact. Energy usage will fall compared to spending time inside with the TV, appliances, and climate control items running. So, creating a more inviting deck or patio is a great idea.

2. Updating your home’s facade

As far as the property itself is concerned, it makes sense to start with the building’s exterior.

Facade materials and finishes have evolved over the years. Opting for an MR1 one coat render system is an ideal way to optimise your home. For starters, low carbon technology encourages environmental responsibility, not least because only a single coat is needed. This is supported by low maintenance, even in harsh weather conditions – so you will require minimal material to treat your home for years to come. Better still, the innovative tech offers an easy application and produces an even finish to leave your home looking fantastic.

Upgrading the look of your home’s exterior will put you in a better mood whenever you return home. Moreover, it should encourage you to implement further eco-friendly home upgrades inside the property.

3. Upgrading your windows

Updating the facade of your home is a good option, but paying attention to exterior features doesn’t end there. New windows will transform the energy efficiency of your home while also creating kerb appeal. When added to the benefits of increased security, it’s an eco-friendly upgrade worth considering.

It is still possible to maintain a classic look with modern sash windows or iconic frame designs. Crucially, though, superior materials and thicker glass will work wonders for insulation. It can also be a great way to introduce more light and air to your home in the summer months. 

In addition to updating the windows, you should pay attention to your roofing and guttering systems. Improved roof insulation will reduce your carbon emissions. Meanwhile, efficient gutters prevent leaks and property damage that would harm your green living goals.

4. Switching to LED lights

As a homeowner, you should always look for simple updates that deliver instant benefits.

When it comes to eco-friendly home upgrades, switching to LED lights is a quick win. When you compare them to incandescent bulbs, it’s clear to see that they will reduce emissions. They also last longer, which is good news for reducing your contribution to landfills.

LED lights aren’t only superior in terms of energy efficiency. They also provide more versatile lighting designs. A range of colours, light patterns, and brightness levels are available, allowing you to create a better home atmosphere while helping the environment.

Of course, when looking for a more advanced upgrade in this arena, roof solar panels are a great choice. By using solar energy to power your home, and even sell excess energy back to the grid, your emissions will fall.

5. Opting for eco-friendly appliances

The modern home contains more appliances and goods than ever before. This opens the door to high energy consumption. The easiest way to overcome this issue is to upgrade your appliances to the most eco-friendly models. Every room can benefit from this approach, although kitchens and bathrooms stand out.

Firstly, you should consider energy-efficient appliances that require less electricity. Slow cookers and air fryers are two particularly popular kitchen gadgets that are low on energy usage. Meanwhile, dishwashers and washing machines that use less water to gain the same results are great options.

Eco-friendly appliances can save energy on a daily basis. Moreover, the advanced tech features will often outlast inferior models. In most cases, the appliances will also use fewer resources than the manual approach. Better still, you will save a lot of time as a result.

6. Using resources more effectively

Staying with the concept of using resources more efficiently, you should aim to stop replacing items so quickly.

It’s great to choose energy-efficient appliances, but you should still dispose of outdated items well. Selling them on platforms like Facebook Marketplace can be a wise move, or you could consider donating them. It’s far better than sending them to a landfill.

You can also repurpose old materials through upcycling projects. Whether you like the idea of turning old pallets into garden containers or updating old furniture, a little creativity and online research should point you in the right direction.

Another way to give old items a new lease of life is to focus on repairs. Choosing this approach over replacement is great for the environment as well as your pocket.

7. Embracing smart technologies

The benefits of energy-efficient appliances have already been discussed. However, smart technologies like Smart thermostats will take these benefits to even greater heights. This is because they control the climate in an automated fashion, allowing you to focus solely on the rooms that need attention at any given time. This approach automatically cuts down on wasted energy.

As well as thermostats, you can automate everything from showers to curtains. Additions that make your life easier while also supporting the green lifestyle should be embraced. Instant boiling water taps and filter taps are great choices. Low-flush toilets that reduce water usage by 75% also yield daily benefits.

8. Selecting natural materials

Interior design choices will have a huge influence on the overall atmosphere within your home. Similarly, they have a significant impact on the overall carbon output.

Sustainable materials are the key to success. Granite worktops, marble flooring, and stone tables are all fantastic additions. Wood is another great choice for furniture and storage features alike.

A whole host of homewares and interior design accessories can tap into natural materials too. Your choice of toothbrush holder and soap dish, plant pot material, or coat hooks all play a role. Even fabrics should be made from organic materials to achieve the desired eco-friendly result.

Taking natural materials into the garden also makes great sense. They fit perfectly with the overall vibe of outdoor spaces, and natural materials such as wood and stone are often durable while requiring minimal maintenance.

9. Installing an EV charger

Creating an eco-friendly home isn’t just about the property. It’s the foundation for improving your entire life.

Away from the home, driving is an area where you can also go greener. An EV charger like the Ohme Home Pro will help you help the environment when you’re not at home, while bringing convenience to your daily life.

By charging your electric vehicle from home, you won’t need to leave it parked at a public charger for hours at a time. A home EV charger is also a public display of your commitment to going green.

If you’ve already made the switch to an EV, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever go back. If you have yet to do this, the addition of a home charger is the perfect incentive to do it now. Again, it’s a move that encourages further eco-friendly upgrades elsewhere.

10. Changing household habits 

Finally, building a better home only establishes a platform for eco-conscious living. Consistency is key to ongoing success, which is why daily habits also need to be addressed.

Switching to chemical-free cleaners is a great starting point. As well as protecting the environment, it can have a positive impact on the family’s ongoing health.

Waste reduction is another key feature. Food is the main culprit, but overbuying any household goods that have an expiration date can have a negative impact. This change does require a conscious shift of mindset, but the good news is that new habits can be formed in just a few weeks.

The pursuit of green living is a goal that’s here to stay. So, the sooner you start, the better. Whether you start with small tasks for a snowball effect, or begin with the exterior of your home before moving inside, the important thing is get started and gain some momentum in your journey towards a greener home.

Have you implemented any of these eco-friendly home upgrades?