The Perfect Time To Make Your Home Green

Spring is upon us and summer is just around the corner. This means that most of us will be indulging in the time honored tradition of spring cleaning, and making sure that our home is spotless, rejuvenated and ready to receive guests. But it also means that we’re getting out and about more, being more social and spending more time out in cafes, restaurants and bars with friends and family. But the clement weather is more than just an excuse to be social, it’s also the perfect time to make some much-needed renovations to the home. Not only are you capitalizing on the sense of renewal and rejuvenation that is part of the psychology of spring, you’re also making changes to your home when it’s far more pleasant to get out of the house and endure the inevitable disruption that comes with any major refurb project.

Although many of us will be thinking about ways in which we can make our home a more aesthetically pleasing place and agonizing over the best color to paint the kitchen, others may be thinking about ways in which they can renovate to add value to the property. Yet a few more, however, will consider how they can make their home more environmentally friendly and sustainable while also scything down their utility bills. There are many ways in which you can make your home greener, and now is the perfect time to do it. Whether you’re in the mood for a major refurb or just a few little tweaks here and there, there are numerous ways in which anyone can make their home green, such as…

Solar panels

Solar panels are great for the environment as they generate electricity in an environmentally friendly way without burning or otherwise using finite resources. They simply sit atop your roof and absorb solar radiation which is then converted into electricity. Solar panels involve an upfront cost, to be sure, but they’re a great long term investment which can dramatically reduce your energy costs. With a solar panel bird mesh kit you are confident enough that your solar panels will last longer as this solar mesh kit will prevent your solar panels from getting damaged by birds that will be nesting. This bird mesh kit is specially designed for solar panels with high reviews on it’s effectiveness and budget-friendly solution to these pesky buggers messing with your solar investment.

As we look forward to longer and sunnier days, you can enjoy more disposable income sipping cocktails or dining on great food with your friends and family with all the money you’re saving off your energy bills. They’re also low maintenance (the inverters only need to be changed about once every 25 years) and can be a real selling point to buyers if you plan on moving within the next few years.

Think insulation

Few people relish the prospect of climbing up into the attic to check or replace their insulation, but the fact remains that the better your insulation, the less energy you’re likely to use. The less energy you use, the greener your home. Check your insulation for puddles, bite marks or rodent droppings. Evidence of animal infestation or damp will mean that your insulation is not functioning as it should and needs to be replaced.

To the windows… to the walls

As well as your attic insulation, if your home has wall cavities, these can also be insulated to seal the heat into your home and reduce your energy bill while also helping the environment. Your windows also play a tremendous part in your home’s sustainability. Many of us end up leaking energy out of our windows in colder months and the warmer months are the perfect time to look for a more energy efficient and sustainable alternative.

Raise the roof

Your attic insulation is not your only line of defense when it comes to environmentally damaging energy loss. If you’re willing to make a reasonable investment, metal roofing can make your home more environmentally friendly. It keeps your home warm in winter while also ensuring that it stays cool and fresh in summer. Moreover, metal roofing is durable, safe and generally lasts between 40 and 70 years depending on the materials used.

Get water smart

Many of us are unaware just how finite a resource water is. Water scarcity is something that nations all over the world face, and while in most of the developed world water can seem like an infinite resource, we must all ensure that we conserve water for the good of the planet. Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can do this even if your budget is limited. Getting a low flush toilet is extremely effective if you have the money to spare, but if you haven’t much to invest, even replacing your existing shower heads with low flow equivalents (and keeping your showers at 4 minutes or less) can make a huge difference.