How to Make Your Home Sustainable in 2024

Upgrading your home is something you might be planning to do in 2024, but have you considered upgrading it to make it more sustainable? Doing it this way means that you're choosing to upgrade your house so that it benefits the planet, but there are other benefits to doing it as well. Even the smallest changes could help you to lower your energy bills, and in a cost of living crisis, you can't really afford not to. You'll also have a much warmer, much more efficient living environment if you renovate with sustainability in mind.

Not only would you be able to give your home a boost, but you'll be able to give your mental well-being a boost as well. From energy efficient window replacement to upgrading your insulation, there are plenty of ways that you can make your home a more sustainable place to be. So whether or not you are building from scratch or you are renovating your existing house, let's take a look at the eco-friendly updates you could give it to make it completely different and yet more enhanced.

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Fabric First in Building and Renovation

Think about fabric first. If you're building a house, you need to consider what the architects and the design professionals talk about when they are taking an approach to a new build. When we talk about fabric, first we mean the design of the house itself is going to help to maximize how the building performs in a sustainable way. The materials used, the positioning of the windows and doors, the way the house is oriented are all things that are prioritized over the electrical features or the mechanical features. If you are renovating an existing home, you can choose upgrades that might be needed across the whole house that prove to be efficient.

Recycling and Reusing

Take the recycling and reusing route. It's a simple thing to do, but reusing what you already have is going to help you to make your home more sustainable because you are already using scrap items rather than buying out more. Reusing and recycling existing materials or items of furniture can help you to have some of the most characterful design schemes ever. You might even choose to reuse bricks from a section of the house that you've already demolished down. Or you might rescue an old timber floor. If you can upcycle the things that you've got, you're going to make your renovation easy.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Consider the volatile organic compounds. A lot of home decoration is done with painting. Whether you're painting the exterior or the interior of the house, you have to consider the paint that you are using. And low VOC paints are going to be your best option for sustainability. The color choice is huge, but the VOC paints that you choose have chemical compounds that are damaging to health. If you choose paints that are low with VOCs, you're going to make sure that you are using fewer harsh chemicals and your home will be more environmentally friendly.

Buying Used

Buy used. Whether it's the bathroom or the kitchen you're planning to rip out, buying a second hand or an ex display kitchen or bathroom is going to do more than just reduce the waste. You could save thousands. Sometimes a used kitchen can come in up to 70% lower than the recommended retail price. Not only will you have a kitchen that's brand new for you, but you'll be able to use something that somebody else has used and save it from landfill. Used kitchens don't mean old. You have to consider the number of times people choose to rip out and upgrade their kitchens when they just get bored.

Shop Locally

Shop locally. If you want to become more sustainable when it comes to your home renovation, then shop locally where you can. Not only will you be able to use locally sourced building materials and locally produced materials, you'll also free up how much fuel is used, just getting it all to your home. This can help you with emission reduction and local community support at the sametime.

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Insulation Considerations

Look inwards at your insulation. Not only can you add to your insulation, but you can upgrade it. It's actually one of the most effective ways that you can improve the sustainability of your home. You'll be able to prevent any heat from being lost through the walls and floors, which is going to help you to save on your heating bills. If you are renovating your home, you should think about adding solid wall insulation or cavity wall insulation, but it all depends on the construction of the building.

Window Upgrades

Update your windows where you can. If you currently still have single glazing in your home, then double glazing is going to make a massive difference to how energy efficient it is. Double glazing works to help to keep the heat in the home and prevent drafts and heat loss. You'll also be able to reduce the volume of noise outside if you go for double glazing.

Renewable Energy Systems

Look at your options for renewable energy systems. Do you have the option to install solar panels? Can you add biomass boilers? Can you look at ground source or air source Heat pumps? There are so many things that you can do here that will allow you to add renewable energy systems to your home and improve the sustainability of the building. The term renewable energy often refers to energy that is derived from a natural resource like water, wind, or sun. It's always worth checking out whether or not there are any renewable heat incentives available in your area.

Conclusion

When it comes to making your home more sustainable, there are so many options. Your support for choice, sustainability, and eco-friendliness should be on the top of your list if you are planning a renovation because you and the planet are both going to benefit from this upgrade to your home. Not only will you be able to make your house a better place, but you are doing better for the world. And who can say no to that?