With climate change issues hitting the headlines daily, many of us are looking at ways we can start to make our lives ‘greener’.
Although, making sustainable changes to your home can be costly upfront – some could help you save money in the end. Find out everything you need to know, from how to make quick and easy eco-swaps to investing in longer-term solutions:
- Solar panels
- Heat source pumps
- Insulation
- Small changes at home
- Change your washing habits
- Take 4-minute showers
- Turn off standby
- Buy eco-friendly cleaning products
Solar panels
Solar panels capture the sun’s energy and turns it into electricity for your home. Not only are you reducing your carbon footprint by using renewable energy, but you'll save money on your bills too. You can use the energy savings trust calculator, to find out your yearly average saving.
Solar panels can be expensive to install (usually costing around £5,000 - £7,000), but over time, they can save you money. You can even be paid for the electricity they produce but you don’t use.
At AXA, your solar panel system is covered in the same way as any other part of your home under your home insurance policy. If your solar panels are fixed and kept in good condition they're covered automatically under your buildings insurance. Just make sure your cover matches the rebuild value of your home - including the panels.
Heat source pumps
Heat pumps are a more efficient and sustainable way to heat your home, over conventional heating. They can also cool your home in summer, by reversing the process to take heat from the inside and transfer it outside.
There are two different types of heat pumps: ground source and air source.
The cost of installing heat pumps varies depending on the source and maintenance of the different heat pumps. It can cost between £4,000 and £27,500 with ongoing maintenance costs to factor on top. There are Boiler Schemes offering grants - like that from the government of £7,500 to help pay for air source heat pumps, so it’s worth seeing if you’re eligible.
Insulation
Most UK homes lose their heat through walls and roofs. Insulating your home is one of the most efficient ways of keeping the heat in, and the cold out.
Start by finding where your home is losing heat, then get to work sorting the issue. Simple changes like changing your blinds or curtains, or adding door seals, can help. Depending on how much you want to spend, you could add extra insulation to your walls, loft, and floors.
Insulation doesn’t have to be expensive. Look at our guide on insulating your home on a budget for ideas.
Small changes at home
It’s not just the big changes that make a difference. Here are some smaller ways you can make your home more environmentally friendly:
Smart thermostats
Smart thermostats are a cost-effective way of keeping your home warm, as they allow you to set the temperature of your rooms.
As they’re connected to your phone, you can control everything via an app. So, if you’ve gone out and forgotten to turn off the heating you can easily switch it off or reduce the temperature. You can set schedules and it will get to know your routine, only turning on when you need it.
Use LED light bulbs
LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent or halogen bulb with the same brightness. They last longer and emit less heat too.
Change your washing habits
The washing machine is one of the most heavily used appliances. The energy savings trust reported that a 7kg washing machine used 220 times a year will cost typically between £25 to £35 a year to run.
To save energy, wash full loads, use cooler temperatures (like 30 degrees) and air dry clothes outside when possible, This can also help you from overusing your tumble dryer.
Take 4-minute showers
Reducing the time you take in the shower not only saves water, but money too! If you need some help timing yourself, check out Yorkshire Water’s 4-minute songs playlist. But, if you don’t have a shower, make sure you’re only filling your bath up half way. Find this and other simple ways to save water in our guide.
Turn off standby
Most electrical appliances can be switched off at the plug, without this upsetting their programming. You can also get a standby saver, or smart plug that allows you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go. This could save you around £45 a year.
Check your appliances instructions for details. Items like TV boxes might need to be left switched on to update and record programmes.
Buy eco-friendly cleaning products
From candles and soaps, to washing detergent and softener, more brands than ever are embracing an eco-friendly approach. So, there’s a lot more choice on your grocery shop to keep your home clean, without harsh chemicals that harm the environment.
As we go towards a greener way of living, we hope you can use these tips and tricks to help your home be more sustainable. To read more on this topic, check out AXA's report on homeowner resilience.
