Carbon emissions are a source of concern for many of us. While most of the action taken to deal with climate change will be taken at the government level, there are still a few things that individuals can do to minimise the impact that they personally have on the natural world.
This applies particularly to homeowners, who have the scope to make improvements to their dwellings. If you’re heating a holiday home, you might find that a few choice investments can substantially reduce its carbon footprint.
Insulation, insulation, insulation
It’s for good reason that most carbon-reducing measures centre around insulation. Heating accounts for the overwhelming majority of the energy we use domestically, especially during the winter.
The heat that escapes from your home is heat that needs to be replaced, often by burning more fossil fuels. So, it makes sense to put in place a barrier to prevent that heat from escaping. There are several places you might wish to do this.
The most popular kind of insulation is loft insulation. By packing your loft with mineral wool, you’ll help to trap heat. This is something you can do yourself without spending too much money. Make sure that you don’t compress the wool since this will reduce its effectiveness dramatically. You might also consider whether your loft needs to be adapted to allow for ventilation since moisture will become trapped up there if you insulate without thinking about airflow.
Being mindful of big purchases
You can make considerable gains by introducing many smaller measures to reduce your emissions. Still, it’s worth thinking mainly about the bigger purchases. If you’re thinking of investing in a wood-burning stove, then you might find that you can save a great deal and reduce your overall consumption – but you’ll be a source of air pollution for the local environment.
Secondly, it’s worth thinking about the environmental cost of flying across the planet. Aviation is hugely emissive per mile travelled, and if you’re flying to the other side of the world, the environmental consequences can be dire. By holidaying domestically, you can avoid this. There are thousands of lodges, caravans, and holiday homes for sale in North Wales alone, which offer an affordable, green way of enjoying a break.
Consider looking at heat pumps
There are technological measures you can take to heat your home without using a boiler. A heat pump works the same way as an air-conditioner, except that it will collect heat from outside the building and release it inside. Heat pumps come in two forms: air-source and ground-source. Installing the latter involves digging a large hole on your property, but the energy savings might justify this hassle in the long term.
