Are you passionate about the environment?
With global warming becoming an ever-present problem, evidenced by the UK seeing its hottest year on record in 2022, many of us are committing to living a more sustainable lifestyle. This could include a variety of changes, from switching to green transport for your commute to choosing to buy local produce in your weekly shop.
Climate change is being hastened by the carbon dioxide emissions caused by human activity. The burning of fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to CO2 emissions, used to heat and light our homes, power manufacturing plants and businesses, and run our most popular modes of transport.
Upgrading your property with the latest green technologies for the home will have a significant impact on lowering your carbon footprint. These new technologies make the home more energy efficient, helping to reduce our overall energy usage and minimise our reliance on fossil fuels.
Discover the latest eco-friendly technologies for the home and how these can help the planet – and your pocket, too.
Green Heating Systems
Most UK homes are fitted with a gas boiler that is used to heat the water for our taps and radiators. Much research has been done on how we can harness the power of renewable energy instead, such as sunlight. The latest technology is a heat pump that can transfer warmth from the air or the ground outside into your property – but this still requires a significant financial investment.
Talented engineers can find lucrative work in green heating systems such as solar panel installation as the departure from using gas boilers in homes is a major part of the government’s campaign for net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Improved Insulation
If you are not yet in a position to overhaul your heating system, look into ways to improve the insulation of your home. This will help heat stay inside the property for longer periods of time, meaning that you use less fuel overall.
Making your home more energy efficient through improved insulation ranges from simple DIY tasks such as draught-proofing windows to specialist treatments like adding more material into cavity walls and the roof space. Even the smallest changes can have a big impact on your energy bills.
Water-saving Devices
Gas and electricity aren’t the only ways that residential homes are harming the planet. Our water use is also incredibly inefficient, with gallons being wasted each year. Given that drought and flooding is becoming increasingly common in the UK, we need to do what we can to regulate our water use in the home.
Thankfully, a number of water-saving devices have been developed. Most of these are incredibly simple, such as the ‘low-flow’ showerhead that optimises the amount of water released per second. Another simple device is the dual-flush system for toilets that gives you the option of a gentler flush.
More complex technologies designed to save water include the rainwater harvesting system. This gathers rainwater via guttering and water butts and transfers this into the home for general use.
