In our increasingly eco-conscious world, everyone is looking
for new ways to minimise their footprint on the planet. Whether it’s being more
thoughtful about recycling or even simply changing your diet, there are
countless ways we can help the environment. This is, of course, for good
reason, as the news paints a dismal picture of the future of our planet. And,
with children around the world have been protesting for a brighter, greener
future, you might be wanting to do your bit too. With this eco-friendly trend
has come a significant boost in the desire for ‘green homes’, properties that
run on the ethos that we should strive to minimise both their energy bills and
the effect on the planet.
These low-energy producing, sustainability-minded properties
utilise a range of methods in their goal to make a positive impact on the
environment, many of which you can incorporate into your home today. From the
ground floor to the roof of your home, it’s now easier than ever to turn your
home into a stunning eco-friendly home; here are just some of our top
tips.
Invest in renewable energy
These days, it’s now easier than ever to minimise your
dependency on fossil fuel options, with technology innovating to meet the
demand of the eco-conscious consumer. The poster child of this renewable energy
movement is the solar panel. Once seen as something only the wealthy could own,
solar panels have become a great long-term investment. According to the Eco
Experts, solar panels can cut your monthly energy bill by around 50%, something
not to be overlooked, and at an average price of around £6,000, they will end
up paying for themselves later down the line. Innovations have also meant that
solar panels don’t need to make your roof look like the side of a space
shuttle, with ever more subtle designs appearing on the market.
Of course, solar power isn’t the only method in which you
can minimise your non-renewable energy output. For areas with less sun, adding
a small wind turbine to your home can have much of the same benefits. Whether
connected to your house or as a standalone component, a wind turbine can make a
significant amount of electrical power, making it another a long term
investment.
Of course, the list of renewable technologies on offer
doesn’t stop there. Depending on where you live and your budget, there are a
host of ways you can harness renewable energy for your benefit.
Consider
green
roof installation
For those concerned with the growing threat of urbanisation
on our natural habitats, why not bring some nature back to your home with a
green roof? Being as simple as it sounds, a green roof will add a layer of
grass to the top of your building, providing a myriad of benefits in the
process.
For starters, the primary advantage of a green roof is
through its retention of your property’s heat, whilst protecting the roof from
direct solar energy in the summer. Because of this, you’ll see a significant
drop in both your heating and air conditioning and a comfortable temperature
all year round.
However, its beneficial effects don’t simply stop at helping
to keep the heating bills down, and can actually be extremely helpful for the
surrounding wildlife. As a country famed for its rubbish weather, the UK gets a
fair amount of rain. However, excess rainwater runoff from roofing can
overwhelm the local sewage system which can then spill over into the natural
waterways and affect the species that call them home .
Installing a green roof can directly counteract this problem
thanks to the water retaining properties of the grass. Soaking up a significant
amount of rain water, a green roof can delay the amount of water entering the
storm-drainage systems, in turn minimising the chance of overspill.
Keep the heating bills to a minimum
Most people throughout the UK will start to put the heating
on around October time, with some of us holding out until November, and will
usually keep it on regularly until March. These few months, however, come at a
cost, both to our monthly bills and to the environment. Heating our homes
accounts for around 70% of our total energy consumption
and the simple act of cranking the thermostat up can cause genuine problems for
the environment.
Luckily, there are a host of ways you can adapt your home to
retain more heat and, in turn, keep your heating bills down. The main method of
doing this is through comprehensive insulation throughout your roof and walls.
On average, an uninsulated property can lose up to 35% and 25% of its heat
through the walls and roof respectively. Because of this, proper insulation
will make the difference between a comfortable home or sky-high heating bills.
Windows can be another avenue for heat loss, especially if
your home is only fitted with single glazing. The obvious solution for this is,
of course, upgrading to double glazed windows, however, it’s important to check
the energy efficiency rating of the product to ensure you get the most for your
money. There is also the option of triple glazing, offering superior heat
retention and noise reduction.
Of course, there are much cheaper ways you can employ to
help to keep the heat in your home and cut down on those costly heating bills.
Buying a set of heavy curtains, moving furniture sat in front of radiators or
simply chucking on a jumper can all help to make a real difference to the
amount of heating you’ll need to use and will impact positively on the
environment.
Build sustainably
With the increasing focus on recycling, it is now easier
than ever to utilise second-hand materials in building you eco-friendly home.
Recycled steel, aggregate and timber can all be easily bought at a cheaper
price than first-hand products and helps to minimise our impact on the
environment and promoting the circular economy.
It can also be beneficial to work with contractors who share
the same eco-friendly mindset as yourself, using less packaging and alternative
travel methods to help reduce pollution.
Work with the land
If you’ve got the space, using your land to your benefit can
be a great way to become more self-sufficient and environmentally friendly.
Look to turn your garden into an area that is welcoming to the local wildlife;
creating habitats and foraging opportunities for the host of garden critters we
love is not only a rewarding experience, it’s also important to their
survival. If you have enough space, you
can also consider making an allotment, allowing you to grow fresh produce
without the need to drive to shops.
These ideas can be made even easier by having a dedicated
compost area for your biodegradable food waste. Not only are you creating
nutrient heavy fertiliser for your crops and plants, but you are also reducing
your overall waste output ending up in landfill.
Superior quality roof design with WR Leivers
When it comes to sustainability, eco-friendly
homes are essential. Whether it’s making simple lifestyle changes or investing
in the range of options to make your perfect green home. Here at WR Leivers, we
understand the need to make positive changes for the sake of our environment,
which is why we offer our customers quality green roof installation services,
using only the best materials to give you ultimate peace of mind.
Aside from our excellent green roofs, we offer an extensive range of roofing
services, from Tiling and slating work to a host of installation and repair
options. So whether you need someone to take a quick look at your slate roof or
are in the market for a gorgeous green roof get in touch with WR Leivers on
0115 963 2946 or
visit our
website
for more information.
