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Give your Home a Green Makeover

By: Lex11 Braxtor11 Click author's name for more of his/her articles

There are literally hundreds of small changes you can make around your home that will have your green stamped and approved in no time. Even a few of these changes each day you can save hundreds each year on your energy bills.

Out of the vast number of measures you can take to make your home more eco-friendly. Here’s how to get started.

Install insulation
Approximately half the heat lost from an average home escapes through the walls and floor, so one of the best ways to conserve energy is to install insulation in your home. Although fitting your house with cavity wall insulation costs approximately £500, you will save on average £90 per year in heating costs as well as reducing your carbon footprint by around 750kg. If you have solid walls then consider investing in a weather-proof insulating treatment which will save even more CO2 – an average 2.6 tonnes per year.
Save energy still further by insulating timber floors with mineral wool padding and installing appropriate loft insulation.

Double glaze your house
This may be another substantial investment, but it’s one which will certainly pay off in terms of environmental benefit. As well as cutting the heat lost through windows by up to a half, double glazing will reduce noise and result in cheaper utility bills.

Invest in a new boiler
A high-efficiency condensing boiler could reduce your carbon footprint by around 1.7 tonnes of CO2 per years. It comes at a price, but could save you an annual £200 on utility bills in the long run.

Change your habits
Not all energy saving measures involves a huge investment in home infrastructure. You can save electricity by turning off lights, turning appliances off at the plug and using dishwashers and washing machines sparingly. You could even consider switching to an electricity company which supplies power from 100 per cent renewable sources, although large providers such as British Gas are currently investing large amounts into sustainable energy research.

Check the grants available
You don’t have to be wealthy to give your home a green makeover. There are a number of public and private grants with companies such as the Energy Saving Trust, which are available to those on low incomes keen to make a difference.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

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