Living in a new and huge house is quite amazing, but living in an older one doesn’t have to be too bad either – especially if you’ve just inherited a fixer-upper from your grandparents. Now all you have to do is add some adjustments and take care of a few things, and you’ll have an amazing house with a soul in no time at all. But, if you’re still unsure what you need to do and how to plan your projects, here are five great ways to make your old house energy efficient – and they’re eco-friendly as well. So you know Mother Earth is going to love the changes you introduce.
5 Eco-Friendly Ways to Make Your Old House Energy Efficient
Check the doors and windows
This is usually the biggest problems with old houses. Their doors and windows were installed several decades ago. Therefore, they are as far from being energy efficient as you can imagine. That’s the best way to lose a ton of energy on heating. And you will have problems with regulating your indoor temperature all year long. Therefore, you just have to do something about it.
Installing new energy efficient doors and windows shouldn’t be too expensive. And it is one of the ways to make your old house energy efficient. But repairing old windows on your own could be even cheaper and just as effective, so inspect them and see if there’s anything you can do.
Check the lighting
Old homes have old lighting. While chandeliers might have been your grandparents’ favorite way to ensure their home is always properly illuminated, you don’t have to share their opinion. That’s why you should check the lighting in your new home. If need be, fix it before it turns into a fire hazard.
Also, if you’re serious about adding an eco-friendly touch to the whole place, you should definitely replace old light bulbs with new LED ones. These could be more expensive at first, though. Especially if you purchase enough for the entire house at once. But they’re also more durable and efficient. They are a much better choice in the long run. Installing such lights is another of the ways to make your old house energy efficient.
Check the electricity
Updating your wiring is one of the best ways to make your old house energy efficient. This could easily be the biggest problem with old places. Their electric potential is almost never used properly. Just think about it: your grandparents didn’t have all these TVs, computers and kitchen appliances when they were building the house, did they? Well, that’s why you have to perform an electric inventory of the entire place and rewire it completely.
However, doing this on your own might not be the best idea in the world, especially if you’re not sure what you’re doing. You could easily jeopardize your life and your house. Safety should always come first. That’s a philosophy people from Australia are particularly fond of, which is why lots of them contact a knowledgeable Sydney electrician who can inspect their place and rewire it completely in no time at all. This leaves their houses completely safe and sound.
Check the water consumption
Back in the day, people paid lots of attention to their toilets, faucets and shower heads. They tried to make them as fancy and visually attractive as they could. Your grandparents were probably like that as well. This is the reason the house you’re renovating is probably full of these old fixtures. They do look nice but are dated and use more water than they should.
Therefore, replacing them with new water-saving pieces is surely the way to go. Not only will your bathroom and kitchen loom more modern, but you’ll significantly cut your water consumption. That will help your bills and the environment all at once.
Check the insulation
Again, old houses probably have no insulation. That, next to leaky windows, is the worst thing that could happen to your energy consumption. Living in an improperly insulated home in the 21st century makes absolutely no sense. Adding insulation is another one of the best ways to make your old house energy efficient, which will save you money.
So, think about insulating both interior and exterior walls, paying attention to the walls, floors, and attic at the same time, making sure your home is completely insulated against all possible dangers. This way, you’ll feel much better all year long, regardless of the outdoor temperature and weather conditions.
Fixing up a fixer-upper is never easy, particularly if you want to make it eco-friendly, but there are lots of ideas you can explore and, whatever you pick, our planet is going to love you for it! Do you have other ways to make your old house energy efficient? Please share them in the comment box below.
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