10 Ways to Transform Your House Into A Eco Home

Sep 16, 2023

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Retrofit your home with with solar panels, triple glazing windows and lots of light.

Whether you want to make some energy efficient improvements or are leaping into green home design, transforming period properties into eco homes isn't as difficult as you might think.

Going solar, triple glazing windows, maximising natural light and using insulation are just a few ways to retrofit older homes.

'There are simple steps everyone can take to improve the energy efficiency of their home,' says Ben Gallizzi, an energy expert at money.co.uk. 'Some measures are more complex than others and will require more investment but there are some things we all can do quite easily if we are to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and tackle climate change.'

Increasing natural light will not only give you a healthy boost of vitamin D and B, but it's also been proven to increase our level energies. For those of you working from home, try to place your desk close to a window for the ultimate mood lift.

'Consider a roof window, sun tunnel or find other creative ways to maximise natural light into your home,' says Professor Mark Gillott. 'The more sunlight can find its way inside the less the need for both electric lighting and artificial heating.'

With fuel costs rocketing, now is the perfect time to do a home energy check and reduce those bills. If you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint, find ways to use less gas, opting for clean electricity instead. Renewable energy tariffs will require some research, but it's a great way to transition to clean energy – and help the planet at the same time.

Solar panels might be a more expensive option up front, but they have become increasingly cost-effective over the years. According to Mark, all available roof space in Britain which is south or south-westerly facing should be utilised for solar energy.

As well as being a truly renewable energy source, solar panels help reduce electricity bills and keep your carbon footprint down. It's a great option to consider if funds allow.

Make your home more convenient to live in with smart devices. Something as simple as switching energy sources to ensure efficient management of energy flows from solar panels can help make your home greener.

Mark adds: 'If the grid is constrained, meaning not enough energy for the neighbourhood because of increased need from heating etc, the car can supply. The car is used as a balancing mechanism, it can discharge when extra is needed but then will be charged when there is an excess on the grid, typically from the solar energy or at night when we use less electricity as a nation.'

Triple glazing, which adds a third pane of glass to double glazing, is a great way to make your home truly energy efficient. While double glazing has become standard for many new homes, Mark believes we should be choosing triple glazing where we can.

'Triple glazing will become the standard of the future,' he adds. 'It's much more effective at stopping heat being lost from the home, thereby greatly reducing energy consumption.'

'Keeping heat inside the house is the simplest thing you can do to vastly improve energy efficiency – and reduce gas and electricity bills,' adds Mark.

If you're not sure where to start, some of the things you can do include covering any air leaks with weatherproofing, adding thick curtains to windows, and picking up a draught excluder.

'It may sound like the stuff of science fiction but rechargeable homes are already a reality,' Mark explains. 'By installing a bidirectional battery your home's energy can be topped up from the battery of a compatible electric vehicle (EV). The home's energy needs are then balanced between its solar array, battery and the grid.'

If you're in the process of redesigning your home, opt for an air source heat pump or underfloor heating – both more efficient options which will help your house to retain heat far longer. An air source heat pump works by converting the energy of the outside air into heat, while underfloor heating will evenly distribute heat around the room (and keep your toes toasty come winter).

Do your neighbours also have green aspirations? Why not work with them to install a community battery — this will allow homes on your street to recharge electric cars and act as a power hub across several homes.

You'll be pleased to know that you can cash in by selling some of your excess energy back to the grid, effectively meaning that you've turned your home into a tiny green power station. 'Vehicle to grid technology means even power stored in your car battery can be sold to the grid if it's not needed,' Mark adds.

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Eco-friendly reusable gift wrap, inspired by Japanese Furoshiki, is the ideal zero-waste alternative to wrapping paper. We love this gorgeous 100 per cent natural cotton style by Tuppence Collective, which is great for wrapping presents, tying around flowers or packaging food.

Show off your flowers with these super stylish recycled vases, which have been handmade on the west coast of Sri Lanka. Crafted from recycled paper, the round planters have a beautiful cement finish, a calm symmetry and are also 100 per cent biodegradable. Every home needs one...

Serve up your coffee in style with this wooden scoop spoon. Hand crafted from natural and sustainable coconut palm wood, it's the perfect size for storing inside a packet of coffee. It's available in two sizes.

Smarten up your kitchen or bathroom with these reusable amber glass bottles. With personalised labels and a black pump, you can easily refill with shampoo, conditioner, washing up liquid, hand soap and cleaning liquids. We couldn't think of a more stylish way to cut back on plastic...

Made from palm leaf, this gorgeous woven basket is perfect for storing accessories at home. Available in two sizes, it's ideal for a bathroom, kitchen, living room or placed on a hallway console.

We're crushing on this cotton square cushion, which has been inspired by classic African mud cloth textiles. Hand printed using Indian hand printing methods, the fabric has been made using recycled cotton and embellished with handcrafted tassels.

Make your home greener with this affordable selection of eco-friendly cleaning products. Choose from a kitchen dish brush, coconut fibre scourers, and a handy bottle cleaning brush too. Top tip: why not try some of these all-natural cleaning solutions to ensure your home is chemical free?

Looking to add some interest to an indoor plant pot or terrarium? You'll love this hand-tied bag of eco-friendly and sustainable crushed shells, which has been recycled from the West Coast of Wales. Every purchase of these shells will help to support a circular economy by using 100 per cent of the humble whelk.

Collect your weekly supplies in style with this bright yellow mesh shopper. Great at reducing the need for single-use plastic, the net design allows the content to breathe meaning you can easily fit more inside. You can also choose from five different coloured threads for the embroidery to make it personal.

READ MORE: 10 ways you can improve your carbon footprint in 2021

Add a little intrigue to your dining table with this set of four contemporary beach placemats. As well as being practical, each mat has been crafted from a rainbow of EVA plastic. Make sure you pick up the matching coasters (£12).

Made from stainless steel, this pack of four metal straws is just what every household needs ahead of the summer months. It also comes with a handy straw cleaner. Drinks, anyone?

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Lisa Joyner is the Senior Digital Writer at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market.

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