Sustainable and simple home upgrades
This article originally appeared on Kidspot, view the article here.
Home upgrades to create your own healthy haven
Renovations have taken a new twist this past year, with energy efficiency, practicality and health taking centre stage. People are now choosing to renovate with comfort in mind. According to recent ABS data, spending on upgrades is at a historic high, at $9.896 billion across the country.
Laundry
Hanging onto that old washing machine may save you money in the short term. But, you’ve probably never noticed how noisy it can be, or how much water and energy it wastes.
Top Loader washing machines were a favourite in the past. Today, they’re more water and energy-efficient than ever before. Haier washing machines are leading the way. Older washing machines moved a tub full of water and clothing around, using a lot of energy and exerting a lot of wear and tear on the mechanical parts.
Today, the technology has moved on from belts, gears and gearboxes. Instead, a motor directly rotates the washing machine drum. Called ‘direct drive’, these washing machines are quieter, more energy-efficient, and with fewer moving parts.
That means a quieter home with fewer running costs for you.
Lighting
Lights are more than a solution to seeing in the dark. A pendant can be a feature element in a room. Downlights can light every corner, and heater lights can make the bathroom a little more comfy in winter.
Some simple renovations can bring more light into your home, saving you energy and money. Lighting in homes contributes 8 to 15 per cent of the average electricity bill. If knocking out a bigger window stretches the budget, a skylight is a surprisingly affordable and attractive option.
Skylights and light tubes can let in light without extra heat in summer or losing warmth in winter. If you’re handy with the tools, light tubes can be installed easily and cost as little as $100. Light tubes can replace a 60W light running for up to eight hours a day in a dark room. That’s a saving of up to $30 per year, paying for themselves in less than five years.
Light shelves are another option. Just like a shelf, it’s a horizontal overhang with a high reflectance upper surface. They reflect light from a window deeper into a room. Placed above eye-level, light shelves reflect daylight onto a light coloured ceiling, entering deeper into the room. They can also shade near the window, reducing glare.
