Sustainability is at the forefront of many residents’ minds and as our own carbon footprints are placed under scrutiny, our home designs are brought into the spotlight. This is because much of our personal carbon cost comes from our households. Energy usage, food waste, and product purchasing are each inextricably linked to our properties. As a result, our interior designs are changing, with more sustainable home renovations taking place.
Sustainability takes a number of forms and it can be somewhat intimidating to know where to begin, especially when making compromises can leave us feeling guilty. Making the effort to reduce an individual carbon footprint is, however, always admirable and, whether you are improving your home’s insulation or installing a rainwater capturing system, you should be proud of your progress.
To inspire your next renovation project, we’ve collected the most sustainable trends of the year, those that will help your home become an example of great eco-friendly living.
Efficient Energy
Our energy consumption is inevitable but it can be improved. Many suppliers now offer energy from entirely renewable sources, however, it remains advantageous to consider the amount with which a property uses.
Replacing boilers, improving insulation, and adopting smart home technologies, such as light sensors, can help to drastically reduce our energy consumption, which is great for the planet and bank accounts.
Secondhand Paradise
Sourcing furniture from trendy and sustainably made sources is a good practice, supporting change across the high street. However, one of the most sustainable practices is, where possible, purchasing second hand furniture.
While some might remain dubious about the quality of such purchases, it can be seen as a great excuse to mend and even upcycle items into a fantastic new product!
Natural Spaces
Gardens are not innately beneficial to the environment. Many homes continue to use pesticides or remove weeds, compromising the ecology of the local area. Instead, a garden should be cultivated to better support nature.
This could mean creating an abundance of flora for bees and other pollinating insects or perhaps swapping your shed for a log cabin and creating a natural space to encourage your time and attention within the garden.
Helpful Worms
Compost can be, admittedly, intimidating. Thankfully, a number of councils and companies are striving to make it more accessible to homeowners. One such method is to bring worms into a compost system. These creatures help to speed up the regular process of composting and maintain a more forgiving balance. Perfect for beginners and those living in homes with smaller garden spaces alike.
Alternative Comforts
There are a number of interior design features that can drastically improve our home’s consumption. Installing, for example, a bidet, can eliminate much of our toilet paper consumption, improving our carbon footprint.
Other such renovations include adopting a smart boiler that can be controlled remotely. This improves energy efficiency within the house and can allow a homeowner the luxury of setting a home to be warmed before they arrive.