Small Changes, Big Impact: Easy Ways To Make Your Home More Sustainable
As a UK homeowner, you might be thinking about ways to make your home more sustainable. It's an excellent idea, not just for the good of the planet but also to save you money in the long run. Thankfully, there are some simple ways to achieve this goal without breaking the bank or needing expert skills.
Use Water-Saving Fixtures
Water usage is a significant concern in the UK, especially during summer. Fortunately, there are many water-saving fixtures you can install in your home, such as low-flow taps and dual-flush toilets. Low flow and dual flush toilets save up to 9 litres of water per flush compared to a traditional toilet. Can’t picture that? It’s nearly 16 pints.
Reduce your Boiler Flow Temperature
One of the easiest ways to reduce your energy consumption is to set up your boiler correctly. This can be as simple as reducing the flow temperature. That’s the temperature your boiler heats the water to before circulating it through your home. With a simple change like reducing your boiler’s flow temperature by 5-10°C, you can expect to save up to 8% on bills.
Install single room heat recovery units
Single room heat recovery units keep heat in your room that might otherwise escape your home. They can be installed in the same place as most extractor fans. Not only are they more energy efficient, they are also quieter and offer better air quality. Heat recovery units recapture up to 75% of heat that would otherwise be lost.
Install hot water heat recovery trays
When you use hot water in your bath and shower, the heat doesn’t need to go down the drain with the water. Recovery trays recapture the heat and reuse it to heat water the next time you turn on the bath or shower. Hot water heat recovery trays recapture more than 50% of heat that would otherwise be lost.
Install a smart thermostat
A smart thermostat can help you manage your heating system more efficiently. It can learn your daily routine and adjust the temperature based on your schedule. For example, it can reduce the temperature when you're at work and increase it when you're back home. A smart thermostat can save up to 16% on your heating bills annually.
Switch to energy efficient light bulbs
It's an easy step that can make a big difference. Swap your incandescent bulbs for LED, which are far more energy-efficient and last longer.
Renovating with Beams
We carry out a free Home Energy Assessment Report (worth £750) for every homeowner who chooses to renovate with Beams, to clearly identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency.
The kind of recommendations we provide include: improving wall insulation, window upgrades, installing boiler controls, waste water heat recovery units and reducing hot water levels.
We make sure that our renovation practices are as sustainable as possible. This includes carrying out high quality, longer lasting builds to extend the lifespan of your renovation, reducing construction days on site to reduce carbon emissions, sustainable material choices and waste reduction.