Over the last couple of decades there has been a drive towards a greener world. More fuel-efficient cars, less plastic consumption, improved recycling, greener energy supplies.

The move has reached our homes, with all us being encouraged to reduce the carbon footprint of our homes.

How exactly can you reduce your home’s carbon footprint? Follow our guide to see what steps you can do to save the plant – the good news is you’ll also save yourself some serious money in the process!

Invest in Solar Panels

A good place to start is with solar panels. There are government grants available that will pay for some or all of the work to install solar panels on your roof.

The new generation of solar panels look better, are lighter and easier to fit. They don’t damage your property and in some cases supply more energy than your house needs, putting some back into the national grid.

Even if you have to pay for solar panels, the lack of electricity bill will offset the price of the panels and in time, save you a lot of money!

Install Good Insulation

A well insulated home can save you a small fortune on heating bills. In many cases you can receive either free or part-paid-for home insulation, especially if you have cavity walls, which most houses in the UK do.

Insulating your cavity walls, your roof and blocking off draft points such as doors and windows can save you a lot of money. By retaining more heat in your house, you have to spend less money keeping it warm. An additional benefit is that you help to reduce your home’s carbon footprint in the process!

Consider Purchases – Go With More Efficient Models

When you are picking up electrical goods, consider your purchases. Most electrical goods have an efficiency scale on them, grading their energy efficiency from A+++ to G, with the A+++ using the least energy and being the most environmentally friendly.

In the short term, going with an A to A+++ model may cost you slightly more, but in the long run it’ll save you money. By using less electricity it’ll cost less to run, but it’ll also probably last you a lot longer because it is working more efficiently than other models.

If you live in a place with moderate temperatures and don’t require home cooling throughout the year, consider getting whole house fans instead of air conditioning units. You can check websites of companies like Safe and Sound Electric to know more about this.

Use Electricity Sparingly

This is a simple habit-based tip. When you are in a room, use the least light possible. Open curtains to let light in, rather than turn on too many lights.

Only put the washing machine on when you have a full load.

Only put the water you need in the kettle – don’t fill it every time when you only making one cup of coffee or tea.

Dry your clothes outside on a dry day – don’t always use the tumble drier.

Simple tips, but they go a long way to reducing your home’s carbon footprint.

Upgrade Your Light Bulbs

This tip has been around a long time, but it is still a very useful one.

When buying light bulbs, go with a more energy-efficient model. Nowadays the energy-efficient bulbs take many forms, such as LED, Halogen, and compact fluorescent bulbs. These are far more efficient than the old incandescent bulbs.

In the short term, they cost more, but they last a lot longer and cost less in electricity to run. Energy-efficient light bulbs cost 4 times less to run and last 10 times longer than the traditional incandescent bulbs. If there are any questions you may have about saving electricity you can always talk to a professional electrician like the ones from kalahari-electrical.com or visit their website here.

Plug in Only What’s Necessary

Leaving electrical goods running can cost a lot of money and speed up the breaking down of electrical goods, not to mention increase the cost of electricity in your house.

Leaving appliances plugged in and switched on, even when you’re not using them contributes to your overall energy consumption at home, increasing your home’s carbon footprint. Apart from saving energy, unplugging your electronic devices and appliances could also save you from a potential fire hazard. Circuit boards and electric contacts might fail, giving rise to a fire safety endangerment.

That said, it could also be a good practice to get your electrical panels and wiring inspected at regular intervals so that there are no problems that might arise later. Getting in touch with an experienced electrician malvern, or alike in the area might be a prudent option.

Install Better Windows

If you have old single-glazed windows at home there’s a good chance you’re wasting a lot of money on lost heat.

Investing in double-glazed windows can provide far more efficient insulation, saving you a lot of money when it comes to keeping your house warm. For those looking for stylish yet functional options, The Window Store black bay window offers an ideal solution, combining energy efficiency with modern design. It also helps to significantly reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

Improve Your Shopping and Cooking Habits

This tip seems less obvious, but it makes a huge difference over the years. It’s also a lot healthier for you too!

Change your shopping and cooking habits, so you rely on putting less stuff in the fridge and freezer.

If you cook all of (or even more of) your meals using fresh ingredients, you only buy the food you need and as a result rely on storing less food in a fridge freezer. With this being the case, you need a much smaller fridge freezer, which costs less to buy, less to run and reduces your home’s carbon footprint.

How to reduce your home’s carbon footprint – conclusion

We all have a responsibility to reduce the environmental damage to the planet and the best place to start is at home. The fact that it saves us money in the process is a double bonus!

Use our tips to reduce your home’s carbon footprint and enjoy the environmental, financial and health benefits for yourself!

Anwyl Homes have been building thoughtful homes in the UK since 1940.