Eco-friendly Ways to Improve Your Home

Making your home eco-friendly doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It also doesn’t have to be a major project. All of us can improve the eco-friendliness of our homes by making small changes, as and when we can. The perfect time to do this is when you’re already making change, such as putting in a new kitchen or building an extension. As you make changes to your home, make them eco-friendly choices.

These are just some of the things you can do to help cut your home’s carbon footprint.

Use salvaged windows and doors

Modern, UPVC windows and doors are bad for the environment. Toxins are released in their production, and they can emit more toxins as they degrade. Rather than going for UPVC, think about buying some reclaimed, restored wooden windows or doors. There are some stunning examples to be found, though you may need to search the salvage yards for them. But if you can find them, you’ll have bagged some beautiful accessories that will make your home stand out as well as well as upping its green credentials. If you can’t find salvaged wood, think about buying new wooden doors and windows. They are the pricier option, but they are built to last and far more attractive than UPVC.

Buy second hand furniture

In a similar vein, try and buy as many used items of furniture as you can. It’s tempting to just drive out to IKEA and fill your car with flat-pack, but buying second hand is always better for the environment than new. It also means you’ll get quality furniture that will stay with you for years to come.

Install a gravel driveway

If you’ve got a cracked old driveway that needs to be replaced, gravel is the best surface material to use if you want to keep it eco-friendly. Unlike concrete or asphalt, it is porous, so rainwater will run straight back into groundwater, feeding the water table and reducing the possibility of flash flooding. And gravel, being loose, doesn’t overheat in summer, so doesn’t contribute to the urban heat island effect.

Fix and re-use, rather than throwing away

If you can make use of something you no longer want in one room somewhere else in your home, do so. Keep as much of what you have as you can, rather than throwing away and starting again. For example, if your kitchen is looking tired, but the cabinets are in generally good shape, consider just replacing the doors and resurfacing the worktops. This is of course cheaper than complete replacement, so kinder to your wallet as well as the environment.

Have a garden full of greenery

Keep your garden green and full of a variety of native plants. This will help encourage a wide variety of wildlife and help preserve biodiversity. Avoid using chemical weedkillers and garden organically. A compost heap helps, providing you with a ready supply of natural fertiliser, and doesn’t need any skill to maintain.

Consider solar

Australians are lucky to live in a sunny climate, perfect for taking advantage of solar panels, and the solar industry is growing here. Well-positioned solar panels can mean you need to take very little power from the grid, saving you money as well as helping the environment.