3 Eco-friendly Home Improvement Ideas to Consider

3 Eco-friendly Home Improvement Ideas to Consider

 

With summer swiftly approaching, many people’s thoughts turn to getting outdoors. The longer, brighter days and rising temperatures make it more tempting to go for a walk in nature or to meet up with friends for a coffee outside your favorite venue. However, this is also the time of year that can be ideal for planning some subtle home improvements that add value and functionality to your home.

The months leading up to the summer holidays are traditionally a quiet time of year and can be the perfect opportunity to take a critical look around your home and plan some renovations. In this article, there is a clear focus on home improvement ideas that are eco-friendly. Information will be provided on the benefits of installing solar panels, some ideas for sustainable patio designs, and the low-budget but highly effective switch from incandescent light bulbs to LED.

 

  • Install solar panels

 

Solar panel designs have markedly improved over the last few decades. Early units were bulky and rather inefficient in terms of their energy efficiency. Today’s models can reach energy efficiency rates of up to 22.8%. The key benefit of installing solar panels is that you can reduce your reliance on traditional sources of energy to power and heat your home. Energy from the national grid typically comes from fossil fuel-burning power stations.

By switching to solar, you can cut the demand for fossil fuel-generated energy. This form of energy production is notoriously bad for the environment and it remains one of the leading sources of water, land, and air pollution. If your home is already energy efficient and you do not use many electrical appliances, you may find that you can sell some of your excess energy back to the national grid. This can make the home improvement a sound financial proposition, as well as help your property be more environmentally friendly.

 

  • Sustainable patio designs

 

Many homeowners enjoy the thought of outdoor dining in the summer months and inviting friends over to their garden for a barbecue. Creating a patio or decked area in your garden can be easy to achieve and can provide the base for a seating area. Search online for Deck Repair and Installation companies that can collaborate with you to create your ideal outdoor decked area. When considering sustainable designs, wooden patios are often the best option. This is especially true if the wood is sourced from well-managed forests that re-plant regularly and use fast-growing trees such as pine. Ensure that the wood is treated with weather-resistant products so that it will require low levels of maintenance and will look good for years to come.

 

  • Switch to LED lights 

 

Finally, if you are looking for home improvements on a smaller budget, consider switching from incandescent light bulbs to LED versions. LED bulbs operate at 80%-90% efficiency, converting the majority of the energy that they receive into light. Conversely, incandescent bulbs release most of their energy (around 90%) in the form of heat rather than light. In addition, LED lights can last for up to 25,000 hours of use, which is far longer than traditional filament bulbs. Make this simple switch and you will help lower your energy consumption while needing to replace bulbs far less frequently.