5 Eco-Friendly Home Improvements for 2021

By mark
Date 13/01/2021
5 eco friendly home improvements for 2021

In 2021, environmental awareness is at an all-time high. That’s paired with the need for better energy efficiency with more people working from home.

Around 60% of workers were forced into remote working because of lockdown in 2020. That’s continued into the new year, but could even become a permanent fixture, with most employees favouring a remote workspace or hybrid working model combining home and the office.

The outcome? Many people are putting eco-friendly considerations at the top of their list when it comes to home improvement. In this post, we’ll look at five eco-friendly improvements for your home in 2021.

1.   Solar panels

What’s more eco-friendly than renewable energy? Solar panels are one of the most popular ways to make your home not just energy-efficient, but more self-sufficient too. They generate electricity from sunlight, which is fed into your home, making you less reliant on the national grid.

Paired with a solar battery, your system can store any unused energy for use during the night too. With estimated savings between £90-230 per year depending on system size, they could even pay for themselves over time.

2.   Heat pump

Similar to solar panels, a heat pump allows you to generate your own energy to save money and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. Rather than electricity, heat pumps generate heat either from the air or the ground.

This heat can be used in radiators or underfloor heating to keep your home warm, or used as hot water in your taps or shower. As well as reducing your environmental footprint and saving you money on energy bills, you could earn a bit extra through the renewable heat incentive.

3.   Improving insulation

Another way to reduce the amount of energy you use is making your home more thermally efficient. The problem is that some of the ways to do so are not so eco-friendly in themselves. New uPVC windows, for instance, release toxic chemicals during production and send the old windows to landfill, with only 3% recycled.

Thankfully, cork-based wall coatings provide an alternative. SprayCork is an all-natural cork-based coating which makes it easy to improve the thermal efficiency of your home. It can be used internally with a plaster overskim, or externally as a smooth, durable render. Whatever the case, it will help you keep heat in, so you don’t need to turn on the heating as high or as frequently to maintain a comfortable temperature.

4.   Grow your own

According to American Express, British people spent an average of £105 each improving their gardens during lockdown. With good reason too. A nice garden can work wonders for your mental health, providing a place to relax, unwind and enjoy the warm weather once it finally arrives.

But it can also be made eco-friendly. Growing your own fruit and vegetables can reduce your reliance on supermarket products which typically come with a sizeable carbon footprint. Needless to say, transforming your garden into a green-fingered wonder can also improve its appearance with a much-needed splash of colour.

5.   Efficient bathroom

Bathrooms are the number one renovation project year upon year. Fortunately, this is another area where you can adopt an eco-friendly approach. Low-flow toilets can reduce the amount of water you use when flushing, while energy efficient shower heads can cut water use and in turn reduce the amount of energy needed to heat it. A win-win for the environment and your bank balance.

The ultimate eco-friendly improvement

Corksol’s innovative SprayCork coating is one of the best ways to improve your home without impacting the environment. But don’t just take our word for it. SprayCork was recently named as Best Sustainable Technology or Product in the Build It 2020 awards and in 2016, SprayCork was named as one of the best eco-friendly materials on the market as part of Kevin McCloud’s Green Heroes Scheme.

Ready to put it to the test? Find your nearest approved applicator today.

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