Turn your old House into an Eco-Friendly Oasis

Every way you turn nowadays, you can hear about people going green, embracing the green lifestyle and turning their homes into eco-friendly sanctuaries, which is good. Our environment is at such a state where we should try better to do better because things are not quite looking great at this moment.

However, the fact is that turning your home into an eco-friendly oasis is not too complicated if your home is fairly new or if you are building it from scratch. But if you live in an older house, things might get a bit tricky, but it’s definitely not impossible. That’s why we’ve prepared a list of some nifty tricks that should help you out.

Check your walls

In the past, homes were built using cement that contained asbestos and insulated with asbestos compounds. So, the first thing you should do, if you want to make your home more eco-friendly and safe, is call in the professionals to inspect for asbestos in your walls and insulation. If any is found, it should be removed right away, because asbestos can be very detrimental for your health.

Additionally, make sure you test your wall paint for lead as well, because some paints contain this dangerous chemical element. Again, if any is found, make sure you take care of it as soon as possible.

Inspect piping

Pipes are another concern, especially in older homes, because they can also contain both lead and asbestos. Not only that, but they can crack or leak which can lead to more serious structural problems. That’s why you should call in experts to check your pipes and take care of any potential problems.

New techniques, such as pipe relining, have become very popular because they are not as invasive as replacing the entire pipe structure is, yet they guarantee the same effect.

Save energy

The next thing you should take care of is your home’s energy waste. Electrical wiring in older homes is, more often than not, outdated, and taking care of it should be your first step towards improving your home’s eco-friendliness.

By replacing your old wiring not only will you be saving energy, but you’ll be improving your own safety as well. However, you should never attempt to do this on your own, firstly because it’s extremely dangerous, and secondly because in some countries, like Australia, it’s even considered illegal. That’s why Sydneysiders put their trust in a reliable Sydney electrician to take care of this for them. Once the wiring is done, replace everything you can – from light bulbs to appliances – with their energy-efficient alternatives to reduce your property’s energy waste.

Clean the air

According to some research, indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside. Aside from the most obvious pollutants, such as cigarette smoke and dust, things like mold, fungal spores and toxic chemicals can also be present in the air you breathe.
To improve the indoor air quality, aside from putting a permaban on smoking and cleaning your home regularly, you can also fill your home with houseplants, make sure you air it out frequently and invest in a quality air purifier. Additionally, make sure you inspect your property for mold and mildew and get rid of it if you have any, and use organic cleaning products to banish toxic chemicals.

Preserve water

If you live in an old home, chances are that your bathroom fixtures are not up to the latest standards, which probably means that you’re wasting more water than you actually need. First and foremost, make sure there are no mysterious leaks, and if there are, repair them as soon as possible.

Next, replace your old taps and showerheads with newer alternatives that are equipped with aerators – they offer the same level of comfort, but reduce water waste. Finally install low-flow or dual-flush toilet tanks, because they also waste significantly less water.
Therefore, if you live in an older house – don’t despair! You can still do things to it and implement upgrades that will turn it into an eco-friendly oasis in no time.

Author bio:
Lana Hawkins is a stay-at-home mom, writer, and interior design enthusiast. She loves writing about interiors, but her specialty is landscape design. She enjoys playing in kitchen and cooking for her friends and family, spending time in nature and learning about other cultures by travelling.