![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/a-running-tap.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSometimes, the simplest things are the most effective. And there are plenty of simple changes you could make in your household to make it as energy-efficient as possible. For example, turning off the taps when brushing your teeth could save around 12 litres of water every time you brush[i]<\/a>!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n By implementing certain practices in your home, you can reduce your household\u2019s carbon footprint and help protect the environment effortlessly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some simple ways to be energy efficient at home include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Adding insulation to your home is a win-win situation. With adequate insulation, your home will maintain a comfortable temperature all year round, whether it\u2019s a freezing cold winter or a boiling hot summer. In addition, insulation can also reduce noise pollution.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n An unsung hero of energy efficiency, upgrading your home\u2019s insulation can reduce CO2 emissions by 95% a year[ii]<\/a>. The energy we use to heat our living and working spaces contributes greatly to our individual carbon footprints, accounting for 19% of our country\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions[iii]<\/a>. However, since insulation reduces the need for heating, it will significantly cut your household\u2019s emissions.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Usually, planning permission isn\u2019t necessary when fitting insulation. However, you may need to install more or lesser insulation units depending on the age of your home. Nevertheless, insulation can save you up to \u00a3250 per year on your energy bills[iv]<\/a>, so it is certainly a worthy consideration, both for the planet and your bank account.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Take a look at the\u00a0<\/em>average energy bills in the UK<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Of all the eco-friendly house ideas coming to light recently, underfloor heating is an option that is constantly growing in popularity.\u00a0Efficient underfloor heating systems<\/a>\u00a0are a fantastic alternative to clunky, energy-sapping radiators or expensive insulation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Underfloor heating works by flowing warm water through a piping system installed under your flooring. Because of this, it can emit a temperature a few degrees warmer than the room air temperature and keep you toasty and warm.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Since underfloor heating spreads across the whole floor area of a room, it requires a lower input temperature to work effectively. This lower input temperature can make underfloor heating up to 20% more efficient than regular radiators, using a maximum of 40% less energy[v]<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The UK\u2019s electricity sector currently accounts for 24% of our country\u2019s total greenhouse gas emissions[vi]<\/a>, with the average household using around 3,731 kWh per year[vii]<\/a>. On top of this, many homes receive their energy from a non-sustainable source, such as gas or oil.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Fortunately, there are plenty of renewable sources that could provide your electricity. Renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, are among the best eco-friendly house ideas since they emit no greenhouse gases at all[viii]<\/a>. By receiving your energy through sources like solar panels or wind turbines, you can reduce your carbon footprint drastically and save money on your electricity bills.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The most popular types of renewable energy are:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Up to 30% of heat is lost in our homes through windows[ix]<\/a>, and we turn our heating on more frequently to make up for it. Adding double, or even triple, glazing will reduce the amount of heat lost from your home, thus reducing the need for you to switch your heating on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Additionally, double or triple glazed windows can also keep your home cooler in the summer. This is because glazed windows prevent the transmission of heat from the outside of the house to the inside through the empty space between the multiple panes of glass.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Experts have estimated that installing double glazing in your home can reduce your carbon emissions by as much as 680 kgs each year[x]<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Recycling is one of the most important eco-friendly house ideas<\/a> because of its numerous benefits. Reusing what we can and recycling our waste helps conserve our natural resources, protect our environment, save energy and cut down on carbon emissions. For instance, using recycled plastic has been shown to reduce greenhouse emissions by up to 71%[xi]<\/a>, as well as lessening energy consumption.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To stick to the mantra of reduce, reuse, recycle in your home, you should:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Cooking is a regular activity in most of our lives, yet it has many environmental consequences that you may not have realised. Of course, heat generation and our cooking habits contribute to carbon emissions. However, our food production is one of the worst contributors, emitting around 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions[xii]<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To cook more efficiently, try to:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Green cleaning is quickly becoming a favoured process for those looking for eco-friendly house ideas. Unfortunately, cleaning products contain several chemicals that are harmful to the environment, with many polluting water sources, contributing to air pollution, or taking a long time to degrade into harmless products[xiii]<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Green cleaning combats this by using products and materials that are completely friendly to the environment. For example, many green cleaners use only natural substances, such as bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice, or vinegar to clean surfaces around their home. Alternatively, there are plenty of manufactured products that are healthy for the environment. Also, there are several green brands that you can use without harming the planet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you are looking for green cleaning products, ensure that they do not contain any of the following:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Also, make sure that any brands you purchase from create products with organically sourced ingredients and recyclable packaging for a completely eco-friendly clean.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Water is one of our most important resources since it nourishes our ecosystems and helps natural habitats for important wildlife and plants to flourish. However, the average person wastes up to 30 gallons of water every day[xiv]<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Our depleting water sources will have a detrimental effect on both human life and wildlife in the long run, so saving water now is vital for our future. In addition, conserving water can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The more efficiently we use our water, the less energy will be required to create products, resulting in fewer emissions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Ways to become water smart include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n By implementing just some of our eco-friendly house ideas, you could be reducing your household\u2019s carbon footprint and helping to reach the global goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Looking after our planet for the current generation and those that follow is vital to our future \u2013 and you can help in your very own home!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Do you have any more eco-friendly house ideas? Is there anything you do already to help save the planet in your home? Let us know.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0[i]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk\/water-efficiency-tips-advice\/view\/105\/turn-off-the-tap,-it%27s-as-simple-as-that!.html<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [ii]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/insulation-the-missing-key-to-energy-efficiency\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [iii]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20201116-climate-change-how-to-cut-the-carbon-emissions-from-heating<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [iv]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk\/main\/insulation-information\/insulation-cost-and-savings\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [v]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.idealhome.co.uk\/property-advice\/how-efficient-is-underfloor-heating-298556<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [vi]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/0957650916675519<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [vii]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.ovoenergy.com\/guides\/energy-guides\/how-much-electricity-does-a-home-use<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [viii]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/environment\/article\/renewable-energy<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [ix]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/update-or-replace-windows<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [x]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.dunstable-glass.co.uk\/why-double-glazing-is-good-for-the-environment\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [xi]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.preventedoceanplastic.com\/recycled-plastic-an-undervalued-carbon-reduction-strategy\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [xii]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2290068-food-production-emissions-make-up-more-than-a-third-of-global-total\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [xiii]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.greenchoices.org\/green-living\/cleaning\/environmental-impacts<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n [xiv]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/legacy\/Documents\/Pubs\/\/331-450.pdf<\/a><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being eco friendly is becoming an increasingly important way of life, and many people have been considering the eco-home improvements they can make to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Although our homes may not pollute the environment as much as large businesses do, it is everyone\u2019s responsibility to help save the planet. Fortunately, you can…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1382,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy-saving","category-home-improvements","category-maintenance"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/person-holding-a-green-sprout.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Gary Jones","author_link":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/author\/gary-jones\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1381\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.underfloorheatingtradesupplies.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\r\n
Upgrade Your Insulation<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAdd Underfloor Heating<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nInvest In Renewable Energy<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Install Double (or Triple!) Glazing<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nReduce, Reuse, Recycle<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Rethink How You Cook<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Be Mindful of Cleaning Products<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Create A Water Smart Household<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Your Eco House Improvements<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSources<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n