Sustainability is more than separating the glass from the plastic bottles after grocery shopping. It plays a role, that’s true, but to keep the home sustainable in every sense, you need to make certain changes to the home itself. Your windows, if old, add a bit of power to the electricity bill each month; your heating system is a bit rusty around the edges, and a lot of other things need a bit of fixing, or as some might say, a little upgrade. Some call it an upgrade, others refer to it as an investment. In any case, they make a bigger change for you and the environment than shifting from plastic to paper bags.
Walls Made of Bottles
A very long time ago, the conglomerate Heineken launched an interesting campaign, selling glass bottles of a peculiar shape that can be used as building bricks for houses and small homes. The idea of the campaign was to address the global issue of homelessness and the lack of affordable homes. But, to a certain extent, also that of proper material use and how many things that we consider trash can be something more. Sustainable materials today are looked upon very favourably, but they provide good quality for half the price and save the environment. A lot of the material we use for every home renovation project can be sourced more responsibly, there’s recycled timber and more natural fibre insulation.
"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down!"
Says the big bad wolf, but not if the house has the right windows to protect it from anything that comes from the outside. Windows and doors, as well, keep most of the heat within the house and most of the cold outside it. It’s an overlooked aspect of a home, yet it’s a small thing that needs a bit of attention and care. Aluminium windows deserve all the rewards; it’s easier to eco-consciously source the material, and it’s also a recycled material that has proven to be durable and very loyal over the years. In terms of what the right choice for your home is, the answer is very simple: the best aluminium windows are those that go best with the whole exterior and interior of the home, but in terms of specific qualities, that’s very subjective. Aluminium windows come in all shapes and sizes, like the bi-fold windows, if you want to achieve a wide and open space feel. Louvre windows make it easier to play with the airflow and adjust it than sliding windows for that perfect in-between fit. Then there are double or triple-glazed and coated windows. A lot of things to consider, but each is worth the time.
Harvesting the Sun
Solar panels are a great investment to keep the bills down and the heat and cooling costs down. With the endless energy of the Sun being converted into pure home energy for the boiler and the AC, it’s a sustainable solution you might enjoy and like very much. The panels cost a bit at the beginning to install and buy, but it’s a one-time investment.
Water Goes in Circles
The water cycle we learned in elementary school is the same one we need in our homes. A lot of the water we use can be reused for the garden, plants, and for the dishwasher or bathing. There are a lot of these water-saving and solution options that allow you to spend less and have more.
Sustainability is not always about the money; it’s more of a mindset and way of living. It’s living with a certain consciousness about the environment and what we contribute to it.
