Home renovation companies have a responsibility to their clients to provide an amazing service along with great communication. That is why at Home Tales, we offer our clients information that can greatly improve their new build or renovation, to create a comfortable and timeless ground floor extension in London. Today, we wanted to talk about how society has become increasingly aware and involved with cutting down on the amount of energy we use, in response to the unavoidable effects of climate change.

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Insulation

Insulating your home is a great investment, as it is beneficial for your finances, the environment, and can last decades to come. Adding higher quality wall or roof insulation and installing window treatments (double, triple glazed) creates a tight seal in your home, preventing cold draughts from sneaking in.

It is known that improving a property’s insulation can save huge amounts of energy, as your winter nights won’t require you to put your heating on full blast anymore. Heating bills can be the biggest monthly utility expense, so cutting down on the use of your radiators will save you a lot of money. Insulation also allows your house to remain cool in the Summer, but only if you block out the sunlight before it heats the atmosphere inside. You might want to consider having a designated sunroom to the rear of your house too.

Natural light

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Rooflights and Velux windows are wonderful features for the home, as they let natural light in and allow for an indoor-outdoor feel to your interior. Maximising on the amount of natural light in your home substantially lowers your energy consumption, as the dark parts of your home will no longer need that constant artificial light source. You save on your electric bills but can also feel good about doing your part for the environment.

South-facing windows can be dressed with shutters, dispersing the light into the room, but keeping the glare out of your eyes. This is perfect for reflecting and spreading the natural light, which is especially helpful in a deep room. Internal windows are also fantastic for allowing the flow of light to travel into the deeper parts of your house that do not have openings i.e. a corridor. Improve this further by painting your walls a light colour and placing mirrors throughout your interior.

Renewable energy

You might want to consider running your house, at least partially, on renewable energy. A popular option in London is to install solar panels which harbour solar power, which works as a backup source of energy. Some homeowners choose to have 2, whereas some choose to cover their whole roof with them, it’s entirely up to you. However, London is notoriously grey and gloomy for half of the year, so we don’t think it’s an entirely stable source. Counteract this issue by introducing other renewable energy sources that are available on the market.

Rainwater tanks are also popular, as a lot of energy is needed to receive the water we get in our homes. Rainwater tanks are ideal as a replacement for tasks that require greywater use, such as watering your garden, flushing the toilet, and cleaning. Ultimately, it can contribute a cut in your costs by a maximum of 50%, which you just can’t fault.

Recycle/DIY

When a piece of your furniture breaks, give your bank account a break and consider putting some effort in to fix the item. Every product has a carbon footprint, so the longer you can keep a product, the better for the environment. DIY has become increasingly popular with millennials, as the projects can be quick and cost-effective, without needing to buy cheap from Asia. Buying second-hand furniture and refurbishing has a similar impact and doing some quick DIY on the piece can make it seem brand new. You can also do this with any of your existing items that you have grown bored of. On the other hand, if you aren’t too keen on the idea, consider donating any of your old furniture and materials, as it may help someone else.

House plants

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We have touched on this topic many times in the past, but we think everyone should have plants in their home. There are endless benefits to them, and in this case, they remove the nasty impurities and chemicals in the air. They absorb these harmful elements and expel oxygen for us to breathe. The world can always benefit from more greenery, and your household will feel those benefits.  

Conserve energy

Lastly, conserving energy is a topic we have been taught about since childhood. We wanted to reiterate the importance of turning the lights off in an empty room, not leaving your screens on standby, and not letting your water run for longer than it should. Technology has progressed since those days, with smart homes becoming more common. Devices such as a smart thermostat, energy-saving lightbulbs, and other smart appliances make it easy for us to cut down on our energy consumption. Stoves have changed from gas to electric too, making sure we don’t lose so much heat to the surrounding atmosphere whilst cooking dinner.

We hope we have convinced you to adopt some of these habits in your home and we would love to discuss any prospective home improvement projects such as loft conversions, renovations, and ground floor extensions with you. You can call us on 02070432378 or email us at hello@hometales.co.uk. Alternatively, book a free telephone consultation with us here.