How to Make Your Home Safe and Eco-Friendly


 

Our homes are places where we should feel completely safe and comfortable. They are our sanctuaries where we can relax and be at ease.

So, it goes without saying that, in order to feel safe and comfortable, your own home should be safe. Another thing that will make you feel better (and save you money in the process) is knowing that you did your best to make your home eco-friendly. With just a couple of home improvements, you can do just that.

1. Insulation

Insulating your home from top to bottom will definitely save you a lot of money on bills. Good insulation will keep the heat inside, allowing you to spend less energy on warming up the rooms. The amount of isolation depends on both the building and the location. For example, the amount of insulation in Australia differs from location to location due to its various climate conditions.

Regarding the windows - you can switch to double-glazed windows, as they are better at keeping the warmth in and keeping it out during the hot days.

In case you have bare hardwood floors on the southwest side, consider covering them with a rug. It's a neat and elegant trick that will prevent the heat from getting out of the house through the cracks in the floor.

2. Secure Windows and Sliding Doors

If your home has older horizontal sliding windows or sliding glass doors, you'll need to make them more secure. They are pretty easy for burglars to lift, so put a shower curtain rod in the track. That way, a burglar won't be able to slide the door or the window.

Another option is to install a window sensor alarm. You will get a notification or an email if a window gets opened. You can instantly react by turning on the lights remotely or even take a look at your video feed.

3. Switch to Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

One of the biggest impacts on saving energy is giving up on using incandescent bulbs. CFLs are a more economical alternative, and even though they have been on the market for quite some time now, they have gained in popularity just recently. And they really do make a difference - they last longer and they also use less electricity. Just think about the number of rooms you have and the amount of time the lightbulbs are turned on - you get the picture.

4. Secure Your Doors and Locks

Your front door is one of the most common entrances for burglars, so make sure they are truly secured. It's best if your front door is made of steel or solid hardwood. Locksmiths in Australia also add a four-screw deadbolt strike plate to prevent burglars from kicking the door open. The screws are long to make sure the plate is firmly attached to the door. A good locksmith in Central Coast or Sydney even offers emergency repairs in case break and enter has already happened. Checking all the outside locks to see if any of them needs fixing or replacing is a necessity. In short, there is a wide offer of security locks, so all you need to do is to pick the right one for your door to improve safety.

5. Install Solar Panels

This is probably not the first time you've heard this suggestion but it really is one of the most important things you'll do to make your home energy-efficient. By installing solar panels, you could get all of your electricity from the sunlight and even have some to sell back to the grid. This isn't a small investment, but bear in mind that it could last for 20 years without breaking and that it will pay off in a short amount of time.

6. Use Tricks to Deter Burglars

Most burglaries happen during the day when people are at work but also at night when the lights are off. A couple of tricks that don't cost a lot or spend your electricity will be very useful.

You can get a fake TV for only $50 which simulates the colors of a TV turned on to make burglars think there's someone in the house. You can also use a web camera to make dummy surveillance cameras and install them around the house.

7. Install a Smart Meter

Most of the energy in your home is spent on heating. Letting the heating be turned on for longer than you need will only lead to more energy wasted and more money unnecessarily spent.

A smart meter is a great way to control when your heating is turned on and off. For example, you could set it up to stop the heating an hour before you leave home and to start it again an hour before you come back. This strategy will reduce your carbon footprint and your energy bills, as well.

8. Fix the Leaks in a Timely Manner

A simple thing like a leaky faucet can waste even up to 10,000 gallons of water per year. So, regular maintenance of your home will definitely save you a lot of money and prevent you from wasting water.

While you can do some quick repairs on your own, make sure you contact professional plumbing services to deal with bigger issues. And have a professional inspection of the plumbing system once a year to check for hidden leaks.

All in All

Everybody wants a safe home, and it's even better if you know your home is eco-friendly. You will feel a lot better if you know that your home takes care of the environment as much as it takes care of your family.

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