Sustainable living is the latest trend in home design, and there are plenty of small changes you can make to help bring your home into 2019. Whether it’s for the benefit of the environment or the health of your family, you won’t regret making a few clean, green changes to your lifestyle.
Home automation
The major benefit of automating your home might be time savings, convenience, or peace of mind, but it also comes with a significant environmental incentive. You’ll be able to switch off devices and lights you might typically forget about when leaving home, saving power and shaving dollars off your energy bills. A home automation system may also be able to tell you exactly how much energy each of your devices is using, even while idle. Home automation is set to grow in popularity in 2019, so you shouldn’t have to search far for a system to suit you.
Indoor air quality
Choosing the right furniture can help you avoid polluting the air in your home with chemicals. Furniture and appliances made from plastic can be particularly nasty and tend to release similar toxic gases to those created by the production process, like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. Paint is also a common culprit, with many brands containing a high concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can make your home a haven for illness. The next time you get out the paintbrush, do some research into paints with a low-VOC concentration – you can get almost any colour you like from a VOC-free brand.
Indoor-outdoor transitions
Embracing a more natural lifestyle can work wonders for your health and mental well-being. For those living in a small space or renting, a few decorative edits might do the trick, like a few new indoor pot plants or a statement piece of furniture made from a natural material like timber or stone. If you have more room to move, consider knocking out walls to create expanses of open space and increase air flow through your home, or just pull out a new can of (VOC-free) paint in a natural shade and give the walls a makeover.
Energy efficiency
Energy-efficient appliances are by no means new to the market, but they have become increasingly popular amidst home owners’ desire to reduce their environmental impact and their energy bills. If the insulation in your home is working effectively, you’re already half way there, but harnessing things like solar power and wind energy can give you a nudge in the right direction. The environmental benefits of solar panels are significant, but interestingly, according to Lendi, the majority of homeowners that install solar panels do so in order to save on their energy bills. Thankfully, solar panels are becoming more affordable all the time, and having them installed can net you a government rebate, so you don’t have much to lose.
Durable materials
As natural disasters become more of a threat, it’s worth considering an update of the building materials around your home. For those in a fire-prone area, reinforced concrete can act as a first line of defence against flames, whereas those living on the shoreline at the mercy of rising tides should start with a sturdy steel frame. If your biggest problem is an occasional strong wind, timber will be more than enough to keep your home protected.
Sustainable water practices
Fresh water is one of the most precious resources we have, and there are easy ways to make it go further. Start in the kitchen and bathroom with water-saving taps, and when you’re ready to commit to something bigger, install a water tank. Water tanks collect run-off from your roof and store it for use in the garden or the bathroom. You can even drink it, as long as you boil it first to remove any impurities. If you’re wary of the potential for various pollutants to invade the water supply, you might feel inclined to purchase clean, bottled water rather than drinking from the tap, but there are far better solutions available. Installing a water filtration device will guarantee that your tap water is clean and free of anything unsafe, eliminating any need for bottled water in the process.
Getting back to nature doesn’t have to involve difficult or complicated edits, and if you invest in the right updates, they will last a long time. Just don’t forget to water your house plants.
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