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Are you looking for home improvements ideas that not only upgrade the look and feel of your home but also add value and make your home greener? Many homeowners are moving towards sustainable and eco-friendly homes as these improvements are beneficial in multiple ways. This can be an exciting project that may be expensive while implementing but will come with a satisfying return on investment.
An energy-efficient home decreases your energy bills in the long term and increases the resale value of your home. Let’s look at five such home improvement projects that you can do for your new or existing home.
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Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances
Switching to smart and energy-efficient appliances may feel like an expensive investment to make but it really pays off for the present and future of your home. You will eventually save significantly on your energy bills and smart appliances last longer and are also an attractive element if you’re looking to sell your home.
With such appliances, your home will have less impact on the environment and you will have a better lifestyle. High energy ratings such as refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers help in reducing your water consumption and electricity. An energy star-rated appliance will consume 10 -50% less energy than its counterpart. The return on investment is almost always higher than normal appliances that use more power to run effectively.
If you’re looking for renewables to power your home, then installing solar panels may be the right decision for your home. Solar panels have decreased over 60% in costs in the past decade and are longer seen as an unaffordable investment. What’s more, there have been multiple schemes and grants to enable homeowners to choose solar power that leads to zero carbon emissions.
As these are immovable, you can add solar panels as a bonus to your house when selling them. It is said that the value of a home with solar panels can increase up to 4.1% higher compared to a home without solar panels. Nevertheless, your home will be using renewable energy to generate electricity and can have the potential to become self-sufficient.
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Switch to Low Flow Showerheads
We cannot stress enough how much water will be saved by switching to low-flow toilet flush and showerheads. An average home toilet is responsible for 30% of water consumption making it a costly expense over time. It is also not environmentally friendly to use a lot of water daily.
Even in the kitchen, it is wise to choose a low flow system for the taps as a lot of water gets used in between washing dishes. For the same reason, an energy-efficient dishwasher is a great improvement to add to your home.
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Switch to Low Carbon Heating
Have you ever wondered how to cut back on the carbon emissions that your home contributes to? Heating your home is one of the major contributors to energy bills and your home’s carbon footprint. Turning towards low-carbon heating solutions can create a significant impact on your home and the environment. For instance, an air source heat pump has multiple benefits besides just saving on energy bills. It has a very long lifespan and requires very little maintenance.
Home heating can be quite expensive but if you install low carbon technologies such as heat pumps that use natural sources such as air and ground to generate heat, they will eventually reduce your heating bills. With the global goal of achieving Net Zero, homeowners can contribute significantly at the grassroots level.
Investing in heat pumps can be a long-term home improvement that will add real value to your home’s energy efficiency rating. Several solutions are available, and it’s best to consult an expert to find the right technology for your home.
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Draught Proof Your Doors and Windows
Having a well-insulated home is the best thing you can do for yourself. Proper insulation has great benefits such as reducing heat consumption, reducing outside noises, and creasing maintenance and repair expenses that come with draught and leakage.
One way to do this is by switching to double-glazed doors and windows. Double glazing as a home improvement is a great project that can be done over a period of time, thereby reducing the cost impact all at once.
You can feel the effects of this improvement almost instantly as there will be a huge reduction in outside noises entering your home. Your home’s heating and cooling will stay intact, which will result in lower energy consumption. As a bonus, your property value is sure to increase with sturdy double-glazed doors and windows.
With these 5 ideas, you will now have a direction to go towards depending on your specific home’s needs. From small improvements such as switching to low-flow showerheads to bigger investments such as installing solar panels, you have a variety of options to choose from and make your home greener and better.
