Due to prominent news coverage, many homeowners are looking for ways to reduce the impact their home has on the environment so that they can reduce their carbon footprint and also save some money on energy bills. With technology advancements being made year upon year, there are more ways now than ever to help accomplish this.
If you’re interested in making your home more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, here are the five best ways to use clean energy.
1. Rooftop solar panels
Rooftop solar panels are one of the most effective ways to produce renewable energy for your home. Solar panels are one of the most popular ways, as the barrier to entry is low, and the results far outweigh the initial cost. The solar panels are usually installed on the roof of your home or in your garden if there is adequate space and sunlight. This is so the sun’s energy can be captured effectively. Once the rays are captured by the panels, the energy is converted into electricity, reducing the burden your home puts on the electrical grid and lowering your energy bills. Depending on where you are in the UK, you could save around 1.3 to 1.6 tonnes of carbon per year with your typical home solar panel system.
The initial cost for set-up is all you have to pay when it comes to the expenses for your solar panel system. Solar energy is free, so after it’s installed, you will enjoy a reduction in your energy bills and no other costs will be payable. Moreover, there are some times when your panels will end up generating more electricity than your home can use. In this case, the surplus energy gets exported to the grid for another home to use. You can then get paid for this surplus through an export payment via your energy company.
2. Wind turbines
Most people recognise wind turbines as a solution commonly built on large open spaces. But did you know that if your property has enough space, you can install your own small-scale wind turbine to help generate electricity for your home too.
Due to the very nature of wind turbines, there are considerations to remember such as the noise they may generate and any planning regulations that must be adhered to. However, if you do go forward with a wind turbine, you can enjoy many benefits. Wind power is more reliable than solar, and depending on the size of your turbine, you could generate a considerable amount, if not all of, of your electricity needs for your home.
3. Solar water heating
Similar to solar panels on your roof, a solar-powered water heater can heat your water in an environmentally friendly way. The sun’s rays are captured through the panels to heat a reserve of water which gets pumped through to your taps, showers, and radiators. This method of heating your water is considerably cheaper than using electricity or gas, so your monthly bill will be reduced.
4. Hydropower
This method may not work for everyone and depends on your location because you need a flowing water source. If you do have a source of flowing water, you could consider hydropower by diverting a stream of water through a turbine. Depending on how strong the stream of water is, you could generate a lot of power for your home.
In order to do this, you would need to invest in a hydropower generator and get a professional to install it for you, but once this is done, your energy flow is continuous. Hydropower is more stable than solar or wind power because it isn’t dependent on the weather, so you’ll always get the same amount of energy from it.
5. Biomass energy
Biomass is a more recent innovation in environmentally friendly fuel. It’s made from organic waste like agricultural waste, wood pellets and scrap timber, animal waste and manure, and other general debris. It most commonly generates energy through combustion and can help you reduce your heating costs. Compared to fossil fuel use, biomass also lowers greenhouse gas emissions and helps maintain forests and crops.
Whilst you may not be able to power your entire home on renewable energy – unless, of course, you live in a tiny home – you can certainly make a positive environmental impact and noticeably reduce your monthly energy bills with these options.
London Youth work to improve the lives of young people in London, challenging them to become the best they can, and last year helped over 27,000 young people through their sports development, youth action and involvement, arts and outdoor education programmes and employment prospects. We feel strongly that all young people should have an opportunity to develop themselves, and so are delighted to be able to support London Youth in their work, providing young people with access to opportunities they might not otherwise have had, to learn new skills, to make a positive change in their communities and to shape the city they live in.
Glass Door helps homeless men and women in London through their large network of emergency shelters and support services. These winter shelters provide a warm welcome, food, safety and shelter for up to 170 people every night. Properly feels passionately about the issue of homelessness. That is why we are delighted that together with our clients we can assist Glass Door in their fantastic work to help some of the most marginalised people in society.
Families become homeless for reasons we can all identify with. We are concerned about people who are struggling to keep things together in our fast-paced world – and we care about those who have no support. We chose the Doorstep Homeless Family Project because they are passionate and effective yet they are a small team with limited funding. They provide homeless families, living in temporary accommodation in London, with access to services to secure the emotional and practical support they require to enjoy a better quality of life.
We need nature and nature needs us. We support The London Wildlife Trust because we share its concern for the environment. We want to ensure that we keep nature in mind as we work in the property market – and crucially, with people’s homes. We also want our employees to engage with nature and benefit from the wellbeing this brings. London Wildlife Trust cares for over 37 of London’s spaces, and their vision is: “a London alive with nature, where everyone can experience and enjoy wildlife”.
Mariel and Michael have been absolutely great, by far my best ever experience with an estate agent. Properly is honest, upfront and friendly, responding really quickly to any and all queries and with a lovely personal touch.
The level of customer service I received at Properly with Mariel and her team was frankly outstanding. It’s lovely when people genuinely care and go the extra mile which certainly they did. I couldn’t recommend them more highly, the most pleasurable property experience ever for me.
We had such an easy and stress free move. Michael helped us with all our questions and was quick to find out any answers to our questions. Would highly recommend.
Had Michael round for a valuation of our flat – very knowledgeable and friendly and wasn’t pushy at all. When it comes time to sell we’ll definitely be giving Properly a call!
Mariel helped me sell my apartment in West London. She was always there when I needed her. Her advice was invaluable and made everything a whole lot easier. I can’t recommend her highly enough.
The service is outstanding. Mariel could not be more helpful and professional. Every individual I engaged with, was well informed and had the full history of conversations. First class service.
Michael and Mariel have been very helpful from the time I contacted them on a property I was interested to rent and through the offer process. Mariel did a wonderful video call showing of the house since I was not in London at the time. I felt completely comfortable to sign the lease from the video call. Thank you Mariel!
We did not feel rushed at all which was great as it really allowed us to really take the property in. We did put down an offer and Properly did a great job in securing a good outcome for both the sellers and ourselves.If you are looking for an agency that will do more than just open the door then look no further.