In this age it’s important we try and do our bit for the environment by reducing our carbon footprint. CO2 is the main cause of global warming and if we don’t control it then the world will continue to increase in temperature and this will have drastic affect on our delicate climate and weather system. Here are my top 5 ways to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
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1Solar Panels
One of the most common ways to help, the solar panel uses the sun’s rays to generate electricity for your home.
You might think these are pretty much useless at night and a waste of money but you couldn’t be more wrong. Although they can’t generate power at night they can however store any excess power generated in batteries ready for when the demand is there. Not only this they can also earn you money because if you set up an agreement with your electricity supplier then you could potentially sell your excess power to the national grid and earn back some of the costs involved with installing solar panels. In simple terms they potentially pay for themselves if set up correctly.
2Home Wind Turbines
Everyone has seen them and we all have different opinions about them but have you ever considered one for your home?
A miniature version of the real thing but they work in exactly the same way. Wind turbines have been debated for years regarding the noise and the sight of them ruining natural sites of beauty but with the home wind turbines they is literally no noise to go with it and its small size is discrete but yet is an icon that you are doing your bit to help the environment. All that is needed to run wind turbines is wind (I know what you’re thinking, how did I know?) but once again similar to the solar panels the excess electricity produced can be stored in batteries for when there’s no wind and you can earn some money back by feeding excess power into the national grid.
3Cavity Wall Insulation
Something not everyone is aware about but has been around for years. Cavity wall insulation is a perfect and affordable way to do you bit for the planet.
Most houses are built with an external wall and an internal wall. Normally there is a void space in between these 2 walls which makes it the perfect place to insulate the whole of your house. After drilling a few holes an engineer using a blower device will blow millions of little pellets (usually Polystyrene) into the void. These help by reducing the heat your house looses through its walls meaning you use less energy to heat your home. The best part is that in some countries this can be part funded to help cover the costs!
4Loft Insulation
Your loft or attic is a vast space usually the size of your house’s floor space. Most of us do not have this insulated so we waste energy by letting heat escape into it and leave through the roof.
Usually made of fiberglass, loft insulation traps heat and stops it from escaping through your roof. This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to help the planet and can be fitted by you but for maximum effect I personally would ask someone who knows what they are doing to make sure it is fitted correctly.
5Replace Your Old Boiler
Every home has one but have you ever considered how efficient is actually is? If your boiler is old, then it’s time for an upgrade.
As time has progressed boilers have become more and more efficient saving you money because it takes less to insulate your home. This will lower your carbon footprint considerably. It’s not just boilers this applies to it also applies to most electrical items. Now day’s most electrical appliances are sold with an energy rating so you can see exactly how efficient your new product is.
So, that was my top 5 essential ways to reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Don’t forget that it does cost money to make your home green but the money you could save on bills could easily cover the costs and you would earn you money back within a few years. In this age it’s now becoming more and more affordable to do it.