Making our homes more environmentally friendly is an increasing concern. Not only to reduce carbon emissions and combat the climate crisis but also to lower ongoing household bills.
Creating eco-friendly homes with reduced running costs that emit fewer emissions is a significant consideration for us at Altin.
We take a ‘fabric first’ approach to homes. We ensure we’re maximizing the performance of the materials that make up the building fabric itself, improving energy efficiency. We also incorporate green tech into the homes we build. The homes at Waterbank will feature EV car chargers and Vaillant aroTHERM air-to-water heat pumps, providing homeowners with renewable energy sources.
While many new homes are built to be eco-conscious, there are additional steps homeowners can take to ensure their homes are true environmentally friendly havens.
Low VOC paints
If you’re looking to give your home a lick of paint, whether that’s a statement wall or a full house job, look to use low or no VOC paints.
VOCs – volatile organic compounds – are found in many building materials and are a large contributor to that ‘new paint smell’. These unstable chemicals let off gasses that are harmful to people and the environment and are now government-regulated. As these VOCs evaporate, they contribute to greenhouse gasses, which have a significant impact on the environment.
Water-based paints from brands such as Lick, Coat and Farrow and Ball, contain lower levels of VOCs, making them a friendlier choice for the environment. They have the added benefit of drying quicker and lacking that classic paint smell.
Candlelight baths
Perhaps the most luxurious way to be more environmentally friendly at home…candlelight baths.
Switch off the lights for an hour and soak in the tub surrounded by your favourite scented candles. For a full spa experience, look for scents such as bergamot, citrus and eucalyptus. We love this bergamot candle from Selfridges, and it has additional eco-credentials of being vegan!
Compost bin
Using a compost bin at home is an especially easy way to add to your eco-credentials. Not only does a compost bin help reduce the amount of waste you send to landfill, but it also provides great fertilizer for your garden.
This stylish option (yes, we are describing a compost bin as stylish) from John Lewis has been designed to reduce odour. Its neat design means it will fit seamlessly into any modern kitchen.
Turn the plugs off
Turning your plugs off may seem obvious, but it’s one of the easiest changes to make. Leaving appliances running when not in use is a huge waste of energy that can be avoided so easily.
Set reminders on your phone to turn off your plugs when you leave for work in the morning and before you go to bed.
If you’re looking for even more home inspiration head over to our blog or follow us at @altinluxury on Instagram