It seems global warming is on everyone’s minds these days. We’re launching reusable rockets into space, all our vehicles are becoming electric powered and governments around the world are invested in developing renewable energy sources. New Zealanders are slowly moving away from traditional energy sources such as gas and coal and moving more to sustainable and renewable ones such as solar.

Over the next decade most of us will change to electric vehicles and many of our household tools like lawn mowers and weed eaters will be replaced with battery operated alternatives. While all this innovation is great, New Zealand households are going to be looking for ways to create energy efficient, sustainable home’s.

What is a sustainable home anyway?

A sustainable home is designed or retrofitted to optimise it’s use of water and energy. The obvious advantage of a sustainable home is a significant reduction in energy consumption, but by making these changes you’re also making a contribution to improving the environment. By replacing older inefficient systems with new low-impact and high-performance materials, you help to create a healthier environment for yourself, your family and our planet.

With this in mind – here are 5 things you can do to retrofit your house into a sustainable home.

Reevaluate your home’s insulation

Until recently, insulation standards in New Zealand have been pretty poor. Having a high-performing thermal envelope around your home is key to creating a energy efficient, sustainable home. If there is little or no insulation in your roof and walls, any effort you put into heating and cooling your home easily escapes through gaps in your thermal envelope.

Talk to an insulation professional like CosyWall Insulation. We’d be happy to give you advice on what you could do to seal your thermal envelope and improve the insulation standards of your property.

Install Solar Panels

It’s getting easier and cheaper to install solar panels to your home. With the right setup, you can generate all the power you need for your home and lifestyle. Kiwi’s that can power their homes with clean energy means that you’re lowering your carbon footprint and avoiding fossil fuels.

Upgrade your appliances to energy efficient ones

Appliance manufacturers have got really good at creating low energy, efficient appliances. Dishwashers, dryers and fridges all use a lot of power, especially the older ones. If you are upgrading, make sure you look for the energy rating stickers on the front of these appliances when deciding what to buy.

Install high-performance windows to help create a sustainable home

Windows can account for up to 50% of your homes heat losses. High-performance windows make a huge difference in lowering your heating and cooling bills. New technologies like double glazing, special coatings and better construction methods mean new joinery performances much better today and helps you out on your journey to creating a sustainable home.

Change out those old light bulbs to new LED lights.

This goes without saying but LED technology is over 90% more efficient that older lightbulbs. The small investment in upgrading the lights in your pales in comparison to the future savings you’ll make from having your house running on LEDs.

If you’d like to know more about creating a sustainable home, the team at Pilkington Insulation would be happy to help. Give us a call if you’ve got any questions, we’d love to hear from you!