With energy bills soaring, many of us are considering more sustainable ways of powering our homes.
Even government initiatives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme are encouraging us to change how we think about heating our spaces by offering us £5,000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler, which is why it’s no surprise that eco-friendly home renovations and sustainable switches are in more demand than ever.
Uswitch consulted property experts throughout the UK to uncover which of these switches could even add value to your property at the same time as reducing your bills.
And these are the results:
- Biomass boilers (average house value increase of £5,000)
- Double glazed windows (£5,000)
- Bamboo flooring (£3,000)
- Solid wall insulation (£3,000)
- Reclaimed furniture (£2,000)
- Green roofing (£2,000)
- Sun tunnel (£2,000)
- Cavity walls (£2,000)
- LED lighting (£1,000)
- Underfloor heating (£1,000)
If you truly want to add value to your home and reduce energy bills, both biomass boilers and double glazed windows are two of the best options. Switching from an oil boiler to a biomass boiler in particular could potentially save you £10,000, when you take into consideration the government’s scheme.
LED lighting is one of the most inexpensive ways to reduce your energy bills but it can increase property value by up to £1,000. With LED options being 80 per cent more energy-efficient than a traditional bulb, this means you can save as much as 90 per cent on what it costs to light your home.
Oliver Bonas
Stars Filament E27 1.5W LED Light Bulb
Florence Codjoe, mortgage comparison expert at Uswitch.com, also has a few top tips when it comes to making your home more energy efficient:
‘Becoming more eco-friendly isn’t as difficult as you might imagine. There are numerous changes you can make in your home which require little work but can help you save energy right away. Installing a smart meter is a great way to become more economical with your energy. By monitoring exactly how much you’ve spent on gas and electricity, you’re likely to become more resourceful, which will be great news for the environment and your finances.’
Another small switch you could make is to simply lower the temperature of your washing machine cycle – it could save you up to £24 a year on energy bills. ‘In fact, switching from 40 degrees to 30 degrees could save you 38 per cent energy, with 62 per cent being saved when lowering this to 20 degrees,’ Florence reveals.
With modern refurbishments like LED lights and bamboo flooring adding a sleek and modern look to any home, Florence adds: ‘It’s easier than ever to build a home that’s both resourceful and stylish.’
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11 eco-friendly home buys from Notonthehighstreet
Reusable Luxury Fabric Gift Wrap, Furoshiki Wrapping
TUPPENCE COLLECTIVE notonthehighstreet.com
£10.00
Eco-friendly reusable gift wrap, inspired by Japanese Furoshiki, is the ideal zero-waste alternative to wrapping paper. We love this gorgeous 100 per cent natural cotton style by Tuppence Collective, which is great for wrapping presents, tying around flowers or packaging food.
Recycled Paper Tokyo Vase
IVY BROWN notonthehighstreet.com
£17.00
Show off your flowers with these super stylish recycled vases, which have been handmade on the west coast of Sri Lanka. Crafted from recycled paper, the round planters have a beautiful cement finish, a calm symmetry and are also 100 per cent biodegradable. Every home needs one…
Coconut Wood Coffee Scoop
NOM LIVING notonthehighstreet.com
US$11.34
Serve up your coffee in style with this wooden scoop spoon. Hand crafted from natural and sustainable coconut palm wood, it’s the perfect size for storing inside a packet of coffee. It’s available in two sizes.
Personalised Stamp Label Amber Glass Bottle
OIKKU notonthehighstreet.com
£5.00
Smarten up your kitchen or bathroom with these reusable amber glass bottles. With personalised labels and a black pump, you can easily refill with shampoo, conditioner, washing up liquid, hand soap and cleaning liquids. We couldn’t think of a more stylish way to cut back on plastic…
Palm Leaf Woven Basket
notonthehighstreet.com
US$17.01
Made from palm leaf, this gorgeous woven basket is perfect for storing accessories at home. Available in two sizes, it’s ideal for a bathroom, kitchen, living room or placed on a hallway console.
Uma Recycled Cotton Square Cushion Cover
notonthehighstreet.com
£30.00
We’re crushing on this cotton square cushion, which has been inspired by classic African mud cloth textiles. Hand printed using Indian hand printing methods, the fabric has been made using recycled cotton and embellished with handcrafted tassels.
Plastic Free Cleaning Products
notonthehighstreet.com
£4.75
Make your home greener with this affordable selection of eco-friendly cleaning products. Choose from a kitchen dish brush, coconut fibre scourers, and a handy bottle cleaning brush too. Top tip: why not try some of these all-natural cleaning solutions to ensure your home is chemical free?
Recycled Crushed Whelk Shells
notonthehighstreet.com
£11.00
Looking to add some interest to an indoor plant pot or terrarium? You’ll love this hand-tied bag of eco-friendly and sustainable crushed shells, which has been recycled from the West Coast of Wales. Every purchase of these shells will help to support a circular economy by using 100 per cent of the humble whelk.
Personalised Organic Mesh Shopper
notonthehighstreet.com
£12.50
Collect your weekly supplies in style with this bright yellow mesh shopper. Great at reducing the need for single-use plastic, the net design allows the content to breathe meaning you can easily fit more inside. You can also choose from five different coloured threads for the embroidery to make it personal.
READ MORE: 10 ways you can improve your carbon footprint in 2021
Beach Clean Placemats Set Of Four
notonthehighstreet.com
£22.00
Add a little intrigue to your dining table with this set of four contemporary beach placemats. As well as being practical, each mat has been crafted from a rainbow of EVA plastic. Make sure you pick up the matching coasters (£12).
Eco Friendly Metal Straws
notonthehighstreet.com
£10.00
Made from stainless steel, this pack of four metal straws is just what every household needs ahead of the summer months. It also comes with a handy straw cleaner. Drinks, anyone?
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Original Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/property/a39796539/property-renovations-reduce-energy-bills/