Energy & Sustainability

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Getting Green: Eco-friendly Home Improvements

27th April 2023

With rising fuel prices as well as sea levels and temperatures, if you aren’t trying to become more eco-friendly already, now is definitely the time to start!

Becoming more eco-friendly means trying to live in a way that minimises your impact on the environment. This is more important than ever as experts warn of the critical state of our planet. We don’t just need to minimise impact: we need to reverse it. Many people think that their impact as a person or family is a drop in the ocean compared to the big companies. While that is true, every ocean is made up of countless drops. And reversing climate change is something that needs to be done by everyone. Here are some eco-friendly home improvements that will help you to be more green.

Renewable energy at home

Whether you are fed up of your high electricity bill or you are passionate about being more green, or both, solar panels are a great place to start if you are committed to a more sustainable lifestyle. Installing solar panels won’t just save you money, it could reduce your carbon usage by a tonne a year. For more information, contact a couple of local solar energy suppliers for a quote.

Review your lighting

Energy efficient light bulbs may seem expensive at first glance, but you need to factor in that they can last more than 10 times as long as standard light bulbs. LED lights also use far less energy than traditional light bulbs, which waste 80% of their energy usage through heat production. Taking these factors into consideration, after the initial outlay, LED bulbs are cost effective AND energy saving. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that switching your traditional bulbs for LED ones could reduce your carbon by up to 50kg a year.

Go green as you clean

Everyone likes a clean home, a shiny floor and a sparkling bathroom and kitchen. However, cleaning products take their toll on the environment. Most of the standard cleaning products in the cupboard under your sink are likely to contain one or more detergent, preservative and foaming agent that is harmful to the environment, and toxic if they enter our ecosystems.

Next time you top up on cleaning products, look for the eco friendly ones that use more natural ingredients. This isn’t just better for the environment, but the risk to humans is reduced, too.

If you are feeling super green, you can make your own cleaning solution using a mix of vinegar, lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda. This efficient cleaner smells lemony fresh, is cheap, and has minimal environmental impact.

Get your boiler serviced

Regardless of the age of your boiler, getting it serviced regularly will go a long way to helping you to reduce your gas bill and hence carbon footprint. If you didn’t manage to get it serviced last autumn, now’s the time to book, while boiler engineers are likely to be less busy.

Want to know more about making your home greener? Follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter.

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How To Save Water in the Bathroom

Are you worried about impending water shortages? Do you want to save money on your water bills? Or do you just want to do your bit for the environment by saving water? Whatever your motivation to reduce your water consumption, there are some simple steps that you can take to reduce the amount of water that you and your family use day in, day out, for the rest of your lives. The best bit? We bet you don’t even notice the difference – other than the drop in your bill! Here, we take a look at simple changes you can make in the bathroom, to help you to save ££s and the planet!Leaking Loos can cost from £50-£200 a year! You are literally flushing your money down the pan. If you hear a constant trickle in your cistern, it means that water is running out of the loo so the cistern constantly needs topping up. A plumber will be able to fix the problem in minutes.You may or may not know this but….. if your loo has two push flush buttons, using the small button produces half a flush. Half a flush equals half the water – so only use the big button if you have to!Standard flush loos can use up a lot of water, but there are ways of reducing the amount of water you use per flush. Just by placing a brick (or two) in the cistern, you could save up to 8 litres of water per person per day. For a standard family of four, that is a whopping 11,680 litres of water a year.Do you get that sinking feeling when you get your water bill? Well, turning off the tap while you brush your teeth could help put that shiny white smile on your face. When you keep the tap on, you are pouring away up to 16 litres of water per minute. Based on our family of four, brushing their teeth twice a day for 2 minutes, that is 46,720 litres a year that you could save!We don’t want to begrudge you your relaxing bath or refreshing shower, but try to be water aware. Depending on the type, showers use about 8 litres of water per minute. Electric showers are the most economical, while those glorious power showers use a lot more. If you need to run the shower before it heats up, rather than wasting the cold water, save it to use in the garden. If you want to slash your water bill, try cutting average shower time by a minute or two. If every member of our water-aware family reduced their daily shower time by just one minute, they would save 11,680 litres of water a year between them.Want to know more? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and keep an eye out for next week’s blog, when we introduce you to water saving tips in the kitchen and beyond.If you have a leak, or your water bills are higher than you think they should be, get in touch with a local plumber who possesses the skills and equipment to identify, and fix, any costly leaks.
How To Draught-Proof Your Home

If you are starting to feel the chill but don’t want to succumb to the central heating just yet, try a bit of draught elimination! Draughts are one of the main causes of lost heat in the home; your heat (and your money!) is literally flowing out through, or around, the door.
Seven Savvy Steps To Save The Planet!

We might have loved the long, hot summer and adored splashing in UK seas that feel warmer than the Med but global warming is nothing to celebrate. If we want the earth to thrive again, we all need to take steps to protect our environment. Going green doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming: here are seven savvy ways that you can save the planet.

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Looking for more energy & sustainability advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common energy & sustainability questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

Is it worth getting solar panels installed on a UK home?

Whether solar panels are worth it really depends on your situation. For many UK homeowners they can be a solid long-term investment - payback periods of seven to twelve years are realistic, and you can sell surplus electricity back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee. South-facing roofs with little shading get the best results.
That said, roof orientation, shading, your energy usage, and how long you plan to stay in the property all affect whether the numbers add up for you. It's worth getting a few quotes and running the figures before committing.
What is a heat pump and should I replace my boiler with one?

A heat pump pulls warmth from the outside air (or ground) and uses it to heat your home and hot water - it's more energy-efficient than a gas boiler when properly specified and installed. The key is whether your home is well-insulated. Heat pumps work best in efficient, well-sealed properties. In a draughty house, the benefits are more limited. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers up to £7,500 in grant funding, so it's worth getting a professional assessment of whether your home is a good candidate.
Are there government grants available for home energy improvements?

Yes. The main ones right now are the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (for heat pumps), the Great British Insulation Scheme, and ECO4 (for eligible households). The details change regularly (eligibility, grant amounts, and which schemes are active) so check directly on GOV.UK or with your energy supplier for the current picture. Just bear in mind that installations need to be done by accredited installers for the grant to apply.
How do I know if my home has adequate insulation?

High heating bills for the size of the property, cold walls and floors, condensation on internal walls, and draughts around loft hatches and window frames are all signs that heat is escaping. A professional energy assessor can survey the property and identify exactly where the losses are happening. Your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - if it's up to date - also gives you a useful starting point.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and am I eligible?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) helps homeowners swap gas or oil boilers for low-carbon alternatives - mainly air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and biomass boilers. As of 2024, the grant is worth up to £7,500 for a heat pump. To qualify, you need a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, and the installation has to be done by an MCS-certified installer. Eligibility and amounts do change, so check current terms on GOV.UK before making any decisions.
How do solar panels actually work?

Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells that generate electricity from daylight - not just direct sunlight, which is why they still produce power on overcast days (just less of it). The electricity they generate is direct current (DC), which an inverter converts into the alternating current (AC) your home appliances use. Whatever you generate and use yourself reduces what you draw from the grid. Any surplus can be exported and you can get paid for it via the Smart Export Guarantee, or stored in a battery if you have one.
How long do solar panels last and do they need servicing?

Most come with a 25-year performance warranty guaranteeing at least 80% of rated output - and many systems outlast that. The panels themselves have no moving parts, so they're low maintenance by nature. The inverter is the component most likely to need replacing, usually after 10 to 15 years. Rain generally keeps panels clean in the UK, but a professional clean every couple of years is worthwhile - particularly on low-pitched roofs where debris builds up.
How many solar panels does a typical UK home need?

The average UK household uses around 3,500 kWh of electricity per year. A 4kWp system - roughly 8 to 10 panels - will generate around 3,400 kWh annually in average UK conditions. Smaller households might be fine with 3kWp; bigger homes or those with EVs and heat pumps will want more. The limiting factor is often your roof space, orientation, and shading rather than budget. An MCS-certified installer will model your specific situation and recommend the right size - this assessment really does make a difference to what you get out of it.
Why might solar panels not be right for my home?

There are a few things worth keeping in mind that can affect whether solar panels make sense for your home. A north-facing roof receives less direct sun and will generate considerably less power, and significant shading from trees, chimneys, or neighbouring buildings can also have an impact. Some listed buildings and conservation areas have planning restrictions, so it's worth checking before going too far down the line. Homes that need re-roofing soon, or that have existing structural issues, may also face additional costs that change the overall picture. And if your household electricity usage is quite low, the payback period can extend more than you might expect.

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