Transforming your home into a green oasis: Creative tips for eco-friendly living

In a world that’s becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues, transforming your home into a green oasis isn’t just a trend; it’s a commendable lifestyle choice. Embracing eco-friendly living is not only beneficial for the planet, but it can also enhance your quality of life, create a healthier living environment and save you money in the long run. Below, we explore a few creative tips to turn your home into a sanctuary of sustainability.

1. Start with a plant-centric approach

One of the easiest and most effective ways to create a green oasis is to fill your home with plants. Indoor plants can improve air quality, reduce stress and elevate your mood.

Choose low-maintenance plants: If you’re new to gardening, consider robust varieties like snake plants, pothos or peace lilies. These plants thrive on neglect and require minimal care.
Create a vertical garden: Utilise wall space to create a vertical garden. This is a creative way to add natural beauty without taking up floor space.
Herb garden: Consider a kitchen herb garden. Fresh basil, rosemary and mint can enhance your culinary endeavours while adding greenery.

2. Go natural with your décor

The materials you choose for your home can either harm or help the environment. Adopt natural materials that are sustainable, biodegradable and non-toxic.

Use reclaimed wood: Reclaimed wood is not only eco-friendly but adds character and history to your home. Consider furniture made from reclaimed wood or create a feature wall.
Natural textiles: Opt for organic cotton, linen or hemp for your curtains, upholstery and bedding. These materials are better for the environment and typically free of harmful finishes and chemicals.
Eco-paint: When it’s time to paint, choose eco-friendly paints that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These paints are better for your health and the environment.

3. Harness the power of natural light

Maximise the use of natural light in your home to reduce dependency on artificial lighting and decrease energy consumption.

Strategic window placement: If you’re renovating or building, consider strategic window placement that allows for optimal sunlight throughout the day.
Light colours: Use light-coloured walls and furnishings that reflect rather than absorb light, brightening your space and reducing the need for additional lighting.
Skylights: Install skylights in key areas to flood your home with light, making it feel more open and reducing the need for electric lighting.

4. Invest in energy efficiency

Reducing your carbon footprint can be as simple as making your home more energy-efficient.

LED lighting: Replace all incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights. They use up to 75% less energy and last significantly longer.
Smart thermostats: Install a smart thermostat to optimise your heating and cooling. These devices learn your habits and can adjust temperatures accordingly, saving energy.
New Energy Label appliances: When replacing appliances, look for the New Energy Label. These appliances are designed to use less energy and can significantly lower your utility bills.

5. Embrace sustainable practices

Incorporating sustainable practices into your daily life is essential for maintaining your eco-friendly oasis.

Composting: Start a compost bin for kitchen scraps and garden waste. This reduces landfill waste and provides nutrient-rich soil for your garden.
Water conservation: Install low-flow taps and shower heads to reduce water consumption. Collect rainwater for your garden with a water butt.
Zero-waste living: Shift towards a zero-waste lifestyle by using reusable products and making an effort to recycle and repurpose items instead of throwing them away.

6. Create an outdoor retreat

Extend your green oasis to the outdoors. A well-planned garden can provide food, beauty and a habitat for local wildlife.

Native plants: Choose plants that are native to your area. They require less water and care while attracting beneficial insects and pollinators.
Vegetable garden: Start a vegetable garden on your balcony or back garden. Growing your own produce is rewarding and reduces your carbon footprint from transported goods.
Outdoor living space: Create an inviting outdoor space with sustainable furniture made from recycled materials, allowing you to connect with nature without compromising on comfort.

Conclusion

Transforming your home into a green oasis might require some initial investment and effort, but the long-term benefits for your home, health and the planet make it worthwhile. Each small change contributes to a larger impact and cultivates a lifestyle of sustainability. Whether it’s through incorporating plants, using eco-friendly materials or adopting sustainable habits, remember that every step counts in safeguarding our environment. Start today, and watch your home bloom into a vibrant and eco-conscious sanctuary!

Property spotlight: Passive homes

No, passive homes aren’t argument averse or really chilled out. Passive homes are energy efficient, carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative properties.

Our research has uncovered passive homes in every corner of the country and at every price point. There are affordable, social housing schemes all the way up to millionaires’ budget, bespoke builds; starter homes to retirement properties; houses by the coast, in the city centre or overlooking a golf course.

Increasingly, architects, construction companies and property developers will have to be more environmentally conscious when it comes to designing and building properties. Octopus Energy have teamed up with a number of home builders to offer new homes Zero Bills™.

Zero Bills™ homes generate more energy than they consume. They achieve this using a combination of low carbon tech – solar PV and a battery – and electric heating.

£225,000 – Kelham Central, Sheffield S3 8SA

Kelham Central Showhome from Citu on Vimeo.

• Zero energy bills for two years
• Access to landscaped decking
• Dual aspect design
• Open plan kitchen, living, dining area
• Perfect for first time buyers, downsizers, couples and those living on their own
• Two storey, one bedroom, mid-terrace home
• 35th coolest neighbourhood to live in in the world
• Central location in Kelham Island

High levels of insulation coupled with an airtight membrane, create low U-Values and reduction of any thermal bridges. Your airtight home will allow you to reduce your energy usage and emissions on a daily basis.

* Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems are used to reduce heat loss from ventilation, and filter the air coming into your home, allowing for up to 4 times cleaner air.
* Triple-glazed windows aid with the efficiency of your home, whilst proving to reduce external noise levels- allowing you to live in the centre of a bustling city, without the noise.
* Every purchaser becomes a part of the Community Interest Company which gives residents more control over their surroundings & allows for a no ground rent policy. Our other established communities, created by CICs across Yorkshire, now arrange community activities such as summer BBQs, Christmas wreath-making and even a weekly pub quiz team.
* We maximise natural energies from the sun via solar panels and thermal modelling is used to check if buildings meet our low energy targets (15kwh/m2/year).
* Its central location allows you to maximise on eco-friendly living practices, supported by free on-site bike storage and provisions for electric car charging stations, making the switch to zero-carbon transport easy.

From £269,995 to £354,995 – Victoria Gate, Stafford, Staffordshire

Bellway is committed to bringing our customers low-carbon homes built with the future in mind, utilising the latest homebuilding technology to create forward-thinking green communities.

The Spinner – The Artisan Collection from Bellway on Vimeo.

• Electric vehicle charging
• Solar PV
• Google Nest Learning Thermostat
• Air source heat pump
• Energy-efficient homes
• Additional cost-saving technologies – “These include thicker loft insulation, a waste water heat recovery system, thermally broken lintels, PV diverters, and many other advancements. You’ll also benefit from better air quality as we move to an enhanced ventilation system.”

From £320,000 to £640,000 – Church View, Bramford, Suffolk

• Air source heat pump
• Thermally efficient insulation
• Integrated photo voltaic panels
• Battery storage
• Underfloor heating to the ground floor
• Waste water heat recovery system
• Increased cavity insulation to 150mm
• UPVC double glazing
• Electric Vehicle Charging Point

Church View, Bramford offers an exquisite collection of energy-efficient homes powered by Octopus Zero Bills™. This smart tariff from Octopus Energy offers the opportunity of comfortable living with no energy bills.
To make this possible, we’ve added a combination of green tech devices to your new home comprising PV panels, battery storage, a wastewater heat recovery system, blown cavity wall insulation, air source heat pump, underfloor heating, thermally insulated uPVC windows and LED downlights to some rooms. This means that your new home has been built to support sustainable living.

£500,000 – Hardwicke Road Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3PE

• 4 bedroom
• 3 bathroom
• Freehold, detached, open-plan residence
• Ash parquet flooring throughout
• Island kitchen and breakfast bar
• Curved, vaulted ceilings
• Off-road parking for 1 vehicle

This sustainably designed, four-bedroom house occupies an elevated position overlooking the unexpectedly bucolic coastline of Hastings… The house’s environmental impact has been carefully considered and forms the crux of its design. An air source heat pump powers the underfloor heating and hot water while a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery System (MVHR), ensures there is plenty of airflow. Triple glazing maximises solar gain and ensures there is an even temperature inside all year round.

From £550,000 – Birdie, The Green, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5BQ

• 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartments with garages
• Overlooking the golf course fairways
• Zero energy bills, zero carbon smart home
• Walking distance to beaches
• On the outskirts of the vibrant university town of Falmouth
• EPC Rating = A
• Solar PV with 9.5 kW battery system
• Air source heat pump
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• PIR occupancy sensors
• Triple glazing throughout
• Produces zero carbon emissions

How sustainable modern homes are taking over the world

In the last 20 years, there’s been a push from government and public sectors for more sustainable options. It’s a trend that won’t go away, due to the current climate issues facing the planet, but also because more consumers are demanding sustainable options.

More available than ever

It’s only recently that sustainable modern homes have become a possibility. American homes are often mass built, following the same construction techniques and floor plans.

Due to technological advancements and discoveries, as well as government initiatives to go green, new homes are now expected to be more sustainable than ever. The construction market has become innovative, leading to new materials, systems and furnishings that are better for the planet, as well as better drainage systems and low-emission and energy-efficient equipment.

Often, building sustainably is cheaper than traditional building, due to the new green construction products flooding the market and competing against each other. It started with lighting, changing from traditional bulbs to more energy-efficient LEDs. Now, everything from home appliances to insulation is available from companies with a sustainability focus.

Sustainable construction saves long-term costs

Older buildings often lack modern construction technology, such as efficient thermal insulation, roofing innovations and advanced water filters.

Homes built with sustainable materials such as tilt-up wall construction help home-owners save money on energy and reduce the need for heating. Not only can sustainable building innovations save money on energy bills, but also use less natural resources.

Modern sustainability technology can also help you use less water. New builds sometimes incorporate efficient filtration systems and systems that require less water for flushing and other activities.

In Utah, Benloch Ranch offer a range of planned community homes that are built with sustainability in mind. They have protective policies surrounding wildlife preservation, conservation of plants and vegetation and efficient use of natural resources like water.

They not only believe in looking after the environment when constructing; they also know that new homes require unique designs to offer something bespoke to buyers. They understand that they need to coexist with the local ecosystem. This is evident in their storm water management systems, fire-breaks and focus on reduction of noise and light pollution.

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Improvement in life quality

Sustainable homes are also made with more natural, less toxic, materials. Older buildings can unintentionally emit invisible fumes and toxins that can wreak havoc on people’s bodies and overall health. That’s not the case with green construction.

As well as being designed with healthier materials that last longer, green homes are generally designed to allow natural sunlight through. Sunlight is crucial to quality of life as it supplies humans with vitamin D, which is essential for good health. Sustainable modern homes are also designed with the climate in mind, meaning less harmful waste and chemicals are involved in their construction. Plus, windows that let in natural light allow you to take in more natural views, helping boost your mood, morale and life quality.

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Get their look: Halloween-themed, black-painted greenhouse

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A post shared by Julie Aldridge (@aldridgejulie)

Summer may be gone for this year, but we’re still spending lots of time out in the garden… even if only to gather up the leaves that are falling from our giant sycamore tree.

As the temperature begins to cool, we’d love an outdoor place like this black-painted greenhouse where we can spend more of the year in the garden. Once potting tasks are done for the year, there’s space in Julie’s greenhouse for table and chairs to enjoy a cuppa or outdoor meal.

The lanterns and festoon lights add atmospheric lighting and the colourful squashes & gourds are a nod to the upcoming celebration. Come December, the pumpkins could give way to holly, mistletoe and a winter wreath or two.

Get their look

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