An eco-friendly home can provide a safe and more comfortable living space. The continuous growth in popularity of eco-friendly home designs has become one of the drives of many homeowners to try similar home projects because of its numerous benefits. An eco-friendly home promotes cost and energy-saving design and materials that can lead to less maintenance, a quality home, and healthier life.
Achieving a sustainable and eco-friendly home can often be overwhelming for many. However, the process can be easier with the proper time, understanding, and professional help. With that, here are incredible tips you can follow to achieve an eco-friendly home.
1. Aim for Natural Light and Heat
The orientation of your home can make a big difference in achieving an eco-friendly home. Bringing in natural light promotes a healthier and more sustainable home. One way to achieve this is by using modern, thermal, or energy-efficient doors and windows. These material types help reduce energy consumption with their insulating properties.
Given the constantly changing indoor temperatures, the insulating property of these energy-efficient doors and windows keeps your home environment comfortable in whatever season, be it during summer or winter. That way, you wouldn't rely much on heat or air conditioning systems, leading to less energy consumption.
The growing energy consumption in the world has greatly impacted the environment because of the emission of greenhouse gasses and burned fuel from electricity generation. Particularly in the U.S., the residential sector accounts for about 21% of the country's total energy consumption, with each household consuming an average of 11,000-kilowatt hours.
Similarly, in Australia, homes contribute more than 10% of the greenhouse emission in the country. On average, about 15,000 kWh is consumed by each Australian household every year. This has led the country and its Climate Council to continuously aim for energy-efficient homes as a widely recognized solution for reducing greenhouse emissions.
With that, homeowners and home builders like those from Montgomery Homes in Sydney, Newcastle, and Central Coast, are trying to ensure and achieve a sustainable home for a comfortable future. With numerous architectural designs for simple, safe, sustainable, and comfortable homes across Australia.
2. Use Local and Recycled Materials
Another way to successfully achieve an eco-friendly home is by using local and recycled materials in your building or renovation projects. Although local materials may depend on the availability in your location, purchasing locally-made materials not only saves you money but also helps in the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions from transportation.
Moreover, recycled materials can also be used in making creative home designs with materials such as recycled glass for your countertops, reclaimed wood for your basement bars and storage cabinets, or reclaimed bricks to achieve beautifully patterned walls. Some other eco-friendly materials you can use include the following:
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Recycled Steel. Using steel from recycled metals can provide your home structure adequate strength and durability.
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Cork. Corks are commonly used for flooring. This material is not only resilient but is also resistant to common flooring problems like moisture and liquid.
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Ferrock. Ferrock can be a great choice if you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to cement. This recycle-made material from waste steel dust and silica produced from ground-up glass is a strong and flexible material you can use in your next home project.
3. Grow Plants
An eco-friendly home comes with greeneries either inside or outside your home. Bringing in plants can equate to healthier and improved air quality, better environmental wellness, and an overall refreshing home look!
Houseplants not only make your home aesthetically pleasing but also improve your sense of well-being, leading to a boost in mood, concentration, and productivity. Some popular and healthy greens you add inside your home are Snake Plants, Golden Pothos, Dracaena, Spider Plant, and many others.
You can also opt for a home garden if your outdoor space allows it. The abundant greens outside your home can make a difference in the refreshment you can feel inside and around your home.
You can stick with blooming flowers, or you can also try growing your food! Indeed, it can be a smart way to practice sustainable living. Of course, when deciding to grow various plants, you must be knowledgeable enough to take care of them. Always look for guides to ensure healthy growing plants.
4. Create a Compost Station
Inefficient food waste breakdown in landfilled systems can produce methane gas that is harmful to the environment. Creating your compost station at home can help lessen these harmful chemical excesses. This is because the natural process of decomposition from composition enables the waste to break down faster and turn into rich soil. You can use this healthy soil for your garden beds,l lawns, or your indoor plants.
Conclusion
Small to big actions and efforts can contribute to a safe and healthier home. Achieving an eco-friendly home requires knowledge, ideas, and willingness to create one successfully. Looking at different ways, including those on the list, can make the process easier for you.
You can always look for other helpful tips, add what you know and want, or ask for professional help. That way, you can achieve a safe and sustainable, eco-friendly home.