If you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint and help combat the climate crisis, why not consider upgrading your home to make it more environmentally friendly?
Compared to simple lifestyle choices like eating less meat and dairy products, home improvements might seem expensive – not to mention troublesome. But that’s not always the case.
While some sustainable home solutions (for example, solar panels) can have hefty upfront costs, they can lead to significant savings over time through reduced energy and water bills. Plus, others (like LED bulbs) are simple and cheap to implement.
To give you some inspiration, here are 11 home improvement ideas to make your home more environmentally friendly.
1. LED bulbs
Swapping traditional light bulbs for more energy-efficient LED ones is an easy and affordable way to lower your carbon footprint and save money on energy bills.
While LED bulbs are generally more expensive than conventional ones, they use up to 80% less energy, which can cut bills significantly. The Energy Saving Trust calculates that replacing just one bulb can save you up to £4 per year. Considering the average UK house contains 34 bulbs, your annual savings could be over £100.
It used to be that LED bulbs weren’t as bright as alternatives, but this isn’t generally true anymore. Plus, because they last longer, LED bulbs create less waste, making them a double-whammy for eco-conscious consumers. To save more energy, you can even connect them to a smart home system to automate when they turn off/on or adjust brightness.
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2. Heat pumps
Home heating accounts for 14% of the UK’s carbon emissions. That’s why many people are switching from gas boilers to heat pumps. These low-carbon heating systems warm homes by generating energy from the air or ground outside.
Heat pumps are more efficient than traditional boilers and run on electricity instead of gas, meaning they can save us money and are better for the planet. According to Octopus Energy, heat pumps can also last twice as long as gas boilers and lower our heat carbon footprint by around 80%. But exactly how much they can save you will depend on what heating system you already have.
The downside of heat pumps is that they’re expensive to buy – around £10,000 more than a gas boiler. However, £7,500 grants available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) can make the switch more affordable – even more if you live in Scotland.
There are two main types of heat pumps: air source and ground source. The best one for you will depend on how much you’d like to spend and how much outdoor space you have. This quiz from Get a Heat Pump will give you an idea of which option suits your circumstances.
If you’re interested in joining the 250,000+ UK households who’ve already upgraded to a heat pump, why not get a free, tailored quote for an Aira Heat Pump today?
3. Insulation
Installing insulation is one of the best ways to reduce heat loss in our homes, which means we use less energy, save money, and reduce our carbon footprints. So it’s worth considering places where your home doesn’t have any.
There are plenty of ways to insulate our homes, many of which are simpler, cheaper, and more effective than you might think.
For example, the Energy Saving Trust says that, if you live in Great Britain, fitting your hot water cylinder with an insulating jacket can save you £40 per year, which is enough to cover the initial cost of the jacket. This goes up to £45 if you live in Northern Ireland.
The same savings are true for draught-proofing your windows and doors. Plus, these tasks are easy to do without paying for a professional.
Other places to think about insulation if you don’t have it already include walls, lofts, floors, pipes, and radiators.
For more information on insulating your home – and advice on how to do it – head over to the Energy Saving Trust website.
4. Water butts
Another simple but effective way to make your home more environmentally friendly is installing a water butt. These can harvest rainwater to use for tasks like watering our gardens, washing our cars, and even cleaning outdoor areas like patios.
Not only can water butts save us money on water bills, but they can also help conserve our natural water supplies, which are under increasing pressure from population growth and climate change.
What’s more, installing a water butt is relatively simple for those with a little DIY knowledge, and Checkatrade estimates that you can get a basic one for as little as £70. This guide from B&Q will take you through all the materials and tools, and how to do it.
Other ways to help conserve water in the garden include using a watering can instead of a sprinkler and fitting a trigger nozzle to your hose. According to Waterwise, hoses and sprinklers can use 1,000 litres per hour. That’s more than 12 full baths.
5. Green roofs and living walls
Green roofs (or living roofs) are roofs that are covered in vegetation, which is planted over a layer of waterproof material. Aside from offering aesthetic benefits, they can insulate buildings, improve air quality, protect roofs, and provide habitats for birds and insects. Green roofs can also reduce the risk of flooding, as they soak up rainwater.
You don’t usually need planning permission to add a green roof to your home because they generally fall under small-scale householder alterations. However, remember to check with your local authority first, as there are exceptions – for example, if you live in a listed building or conservation area. It’s also important to consult a roof contractor or structural engineer beforehand.
If you can’t or don’t wish to add a green roof to your home, they can also work well on outbuildings like sheds. Another great alternative is building a living wall in your outdoor space. These are effectively vertical green roofs and can be constructed on sturdy fences or exterior walls using kits like this one from Walls of Plants. This guide from Gardeners’ World has more information.
Stay cosy and save with an Aira Heat Pump
Save up to £525 a year on energy bills by upgrading your boiler to an Aira Heat Pump.
From free home assessment to installation and a 15-year guarantee, everything’s included in your switch with Aira.
6. Biomass boilers
If a heat pump isn’t right for you, you could consider installing a biomass boiler. Biomass boilers burn organic material – like wood, plants, and household waste – to heat our homes.
The main advantage of biomass boilers is that they release less carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) than traditional gas boilers.
However, it’s worth noting that biomass boilers can release other harmful pollutants, such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, which can lower your local air quality. So if you live somewhere with existing air quality issues, it probably isn’t the right option for you. Some areas don’t allow them at all – you can contact your local authority to find out.
That said, if you live in an appropriate area, your fuel comes from a sustainable source (most UK wood does), and your biomass boiler is installed and used correctly, it’s generally considered a greener option than a traditional boiler. You can also get £5,000 towards a biomass boiler through the BUS.
To find out more about biomass boilers, check out this post from the Energy Saving Trust.
7. Smart home devices
Smart home devices are appliances that can be connected to the internet and controlled remotely via our phones or a central smart hub (for example, an Amazon Echo or Google Nest).
They can automate household tasks, lower our energy bills, and even help us live healthier lifestyles – though many people are adopting them because of their environmental benefits. For example, smart plugs and lighting systems can optimise our energy usage, while smart toilets and taps can help us conserve water.
Smart metres, which show you exactly how much energy you’re using, are also a great tool for lowering your carbon footprint. If you don’t already have one, you can contact your energy provider for details.
For more information, check out our article: 10 smart home devices you didn’t know you needed.
8. Energy-efficient windows
Upgrading your windows to more energy-efficient ones is another effective way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Energy-efficient windows are those with double (or even triple) glazing and frames specially designed to minimise heat loss.
As well as keeping heat in, energy-efficient windows also help keep noise out, which can help make your home more peaceful – especially if you live in a built-up area.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can expect to pay £15,000 for a set of A-rated windows for a semi-detached house. But they can save up to £140 a year in energy bills and 380kg of carbon dioxide.
Other ways to prevent heat loss through windows include draught-proofing windows, covering them in insulating film, or using thicker curtains. Check out this blog post from OVO to find out more about energy-efficient windows.
9. Wildlife-friendly outdoor space
Due to human activities like pollution and habitat destruction, many of our native animals and plants are under threat. A 2023 analysis from wildlife scientists states that one in six species is at risk of being lost in Great Britain – including 40% of bird species. But taking steps to make our gardens, patios, and balconies more wildlife-friendly can help combat this decline.
There are many ways to make our outdoor spaces a haven for wildlife. Installing bird feeders and water baths can help keep creatures fed and hydrated, while adding ponds, building insect hotels, and letting grass grow long can provide habitats.
Or why not start a compost heap? Not only will this turn waste from your kitchen and garden into nutrient-rich fertiliser, but it’ll also offer shelter and a feeding area for wildlife – such as beetles, toads, bats, birds, and hedgehogs.
For more ideas, check out our article: 11 ways to make your garden more wildlife-friendly.
Stay cosy and save with an Aira Heat Pump
Save up to £525 a year on energy bills by upgrading your boiler to an Aira Heat Pump.
From free home assessment to installation and a 15-year guarantee, everything’s included in your switch with Aira.
10. Solar panels
According to government data, 1.4 million homes in the UK have solar panels. While upfront costs are hefty, they can save you hundreds of pounds on energy each year. But whether they’re worth it for you will depend on a few factors – including the direction your roof faces and how much you normally spend on electricity.
Yet, financial savings aren’t the only reason to think about installing solar panels. According to the Energy Saving Trust, depending on where you live in the UK, a typical solar panel system can save approximately one tonne of carbon a year. That’s the equivalent produced by driving from London to Bristol 30 times in a conventional car.
To help you decide, check out our articles: 9 benefits of adding solar panels to your home, How much do solar panels for my home cost?, and 8 myths about solar panels.
11. Water-saving shower heads
Between activities like brushing teeth, showering, and washing dishes, the average person uses around 142 litres of water per day. A five-minute shower alone uses 75-90 litres. However, according to Waterwise, installing a low-flow shower head can save around six litres per minute.
By controlling flow and spray pattern, low-flow shower heads give us the sensation of a high-pressure shower without using more water. You can also buy aerating shower heads, which achieve the same effect by mixing water with air.
What’s more, in many cases, you can replace your shower head yourself. To find out how and whether you should consider getting a water-efficient shower head in the first place, check out this article from Which?.
Other devices that can help you save water at home include water-efficient toilets and taps.
Final thoughts…
The climate crisis can be overwhelming. Some of the facts and figures are so startling that it’s easy to feel like we can’t make a difference. But while governments and businesses can have the biggest impact, it’s important not to underestimate the power of individual choices – such as switching to LED bulbs or harvesting rainwater.
What’s more, as the list above shows, being eco-friendly and saving money usually come hand-in-hand, whether that’s through choosing low-carbon heating options or embracing smart technology.
For more home improvement inspiration, head over to our home and garden section. Here, you’ll find advice on everything from renter-friendly home improvements to how to revamp your home for next to nothing.
Are you considering any of these home improvements? Or have you undertaken any already? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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