World Earth Day originated on American college campuses in the 1970s and has since become a worldwide occasion. Today, it is celebrated globally with more than a billion participants. This day raises awareness about the current state of our environment and encourages us to take steps towards its protection.
As Earth Day 2024 approaches, there are many ways to do something meaningful. Among the several options available, how about improving the energy efficiency of your home? Why not take action to reduce your carbon footprint and promote a healthier planet?
Many houses contribute to a startling amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. However, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact by adopting basic energy-efficient measures.
Here’s how you can make your home energy-efficient for Earth Day 2024 and beyond!
1. Find Areas of Improvement
Finding areas in your house where energy is being misused or wasted is the first step towards making it more energy-efficient. This is precisely what an Energy Performance Certificate will help you uncover. An EPC evaluation is a careful inspection of different areas of your home, such as insulation, heating, and lighting. In addition to offering insightful information about your home’s energy performance, this certificate also provides a Recommendations Report so you can make improvements. By adhering to these suggestions you can make your home more energy efficient in celebration of Earth Day 2024.
2. Check Your Home Air Quality
There can be openings and gaps in the structure of your house, which cause air infiltration. This exchange of air will cause your HVAC system to work harder and use more energy to maintain desired indoor temperatures. This is why, ensuring your house is air-leak-proof is essential for improving its energy efficiency.
The best way to identify potential air leaks or entry points in your house is by having an air tightness test. By identifying these gaps, you can properly seal them off, reducing the chances of temperature disbalance due to air infiltration. Air tightness tests are a great initiative towards creating an energy-efficient home.
3. Improve Your Insulation
One of the most common reasons some houses consume more energy than others is poor insulation. You can lower your energy usage and make your home comfortable all year round by improving insulation. Also remember to upgrade certain insulation features such as weatherstripping, caulking, and some additional layers every few years. These simple jobs make a huge difference!
A properly insulated home prevents heat gain in the summer and loss in the winter. Improving the thermal efficiency of your insulation also helps to keep interior temperatures constant, easing the burden on your HVAC system, enabling it to use less energy for maintaining a comfortable indoor environment. Incorporating these insulation upgrades is essential for creating an energy-efficient property.
4. Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances
A simple yet effective step in lowering your household’s energy usage is switching to energy-efficient appliances. Read the energy label on appliances, so you can compare to other models and brands. Besides helping reduce your home’s carbon footprint, energy-efficient appliances can save you a lot of money on your utility bills.
5. Replace Old Lighting with LED
A simple, energy-efficient switch involves changing your traditional incandescent ones to LED’s. As a more economical and environmentally friendly option than conventional lighting, they use as much as seventy-five per cent less energy and last far longer. These bulbs are also available in a range of colour temperatures and designs, so you can personalise your lighting to your taste while still saving energy.
6. Install Smart Technologies
Using smart technology is a wise move if you want to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Innovative ways to lower energy use can be discovered with motion-sensored lighting and programmable thermostats as you can create personalised schedules for heating and cooling, ensuring that your HVAC system runs effectively and only when needed.
Similarly, with motion-sensored, they automatically turn on and off in reaction to movement. You can easily reduce energy waste in your house and help create a more sustainable environment by incorporating these smart technologies.
Become Energy Efficient on Earth Day 2024 with Gio!
If you are looking to make energy-efficient upgrades to your home or property this Earth Day, we can help you out!
At Gio Property Solutions, we specialise in offering Energy Performance Certificates, Air Tightness Testing, Retrofit coordination and more. All of our services are directed towards helping homeowners and property owners make informed decisions to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and create more sustainable living spaces.
With our guidance, you will receive valuable information about your property’s energy usage, identify areas for improvement and receive customised recommendations to increase your energy efficiency.
Discover more about our services or contact us today to book an appointment!
