Simple ways to make your home warmer, greener, and more efficient from our green expert and certified Passivhaus designer, Jenny Booth.

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Whether your home is a cosy Victorian terrace or a 1980s semi, there’s a lot you can do to make your home more sustainable without starting from scratch. The key is to work with what you have — improving insulation, managing energy use, and making smarter choices about water.

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This guide brings together tried-and-tested ideas based on Passive House principles and sustainable water design — but explained in plain English for real homes.

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1. Insulate First: Biggest Comfort Gain for the Lowest Cost

Good insulation is one of the most powerful ways to make your home energy efficient. It keeps the warmth in during winter and stops heat creeping in during the summer.

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Start with your loft, which is usually the easiest and most cost-effective place to add insulation. If you have an older home, this is a key first step. Before the first building regulations were first introduced in the 1960s, loft insulation wasn’t commonly fitted, meaning your home is likely to be missing this if it was built prior.

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Next, look at your walls and floors. Even a modest upgrade to the insultation here can noticeably improve comfort and reduce bills.

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Don’t forget the small details — sealing gaps between skirting boards, floors, and windows helps stop cold air sneaking in. Think of it as putting a warm coat on your home.

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2. Stop Unwanted Drafts, Keep Heat In

Drafts aren’t “fresh air” — they’re wasted energy. Seal leaky windows, doors, and pipe openings using foam, tape, or sealant.

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If you’re doing renovation work, consider getting an airtightness test (also known as a blower door test) or thermal imaging as part of an energy survey. These show exactly where (and how much) warm air is leaking out so you can fix it efficiently.

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Once you’ve sealed the house properly, remember you’ll need to manage ventilation intentionally (see next point).

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3. Smart Ventilation: Fresh Air, Minimal Heat Loss

When you make your home airtight, you want fresh air without losing heat.

A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR) can do this automatically — it brings in fresh air and captures warmth from the outgoing air.

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If that sounds too high-tech for now, even single-room extractors with heat recovery can make a big difference in kitchens or bathrooms. And always keep filters clean to maintain good air quality.

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4. Upgrade Windows and Doors

Old, leaky windows can undo a lot of your insulation work.

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Modern double or triple-glazed windows with well-installed, insulated frames can drastically reduce heat loss and outside noise.

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Double glazing is 2x as effective as single glazing, and triple glazing a further 50% more effective than double glazing. On average, the extra efficiency offered by double-glazing (A-rated) can save around £195 annually on energy bills, while triple-glazing (A++ rating) saves about £235 (EcoExperts).

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When you replace your windows, think about orientation:

• South-facing windows can bring in free heat and light.

• West-facing ones may need external blinds or trees for shade in summer.

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A professional installation with airtight seals is just as important as the glass itself.

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5. Use the Sun to Your Advantage

The sun is your home’s best free energy source. In winter, open curtains and let light flood in through south-facing windows. In summer, keep blinds or shutters closed during the hottest parts of the day.

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If you’re planning any external works, consider adding overhangs, shading screens, pergolas, or deciduous trees to help with natural shading. It’s all about balance — letting in warmth when it works for you and blocking it when it doesn’t.

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6. Efficient Heating & Hot Water Systems

If your boiler is due for replacement, it’s worth looking at a heat pump, which extracts warmth from the air or ground and uses much less energy. Whilst gas boilers operate at 90% to 95% efficiency, heat pumps have an efficiency of up to 380%.

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If that’s not an option, a modern condensing boiler with smart controls and zoned heating can still save a lot.

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Don’t forget the simple fixes:

• Insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes

• Shorten pipe (or duct) runs where possible

• Add thermostatic valves to radiators so you only heat rooms you use

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7. Go Renewable When You Can

Solar panels are now more affordable and can generate free electricity for decades. Pair them with a battery or EV charger to make the most of your power.

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If you’re not ready for renewables yet, plan ahead — leave space on your roof so you can add them later without major disruption.

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8. Save and Reuse Water

Sustainable living isn’t just about energy — it’s also about using water wisely.

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• Fit low-flow taps and showers — they save water without losing pressure.

• Use dual-flush toilets to cut down on wasted water.

• Collect rainwater in a simple garden water butt for plants and outdoor cleaning.

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If you’re renovating, you could even install a rainwater tank or greywater system (which reuses bath or shower water for toilet flushing).

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And outside, choose permeable paving and native plants to reduce flooding risk and irrigation needs.

9. Boost Biodiversity Around Your Home

A truly sustainable home supports not just you — but the environment around you.

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Encouraging biodiversity can make your garden more vibrant, more resilient to climate change, and better for local wildlife. Even small changes can make a big difference:

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• Plant native species that provide food and shelter for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

• Add layers — trees, shrubs, flowers, and ground cover together create more habitats.

• Avoid pesticides — they harm the beneficial insects that keep your garden balanced.

• Add a mini wildlife feature — such as a pond, log pile, or bird box.

• Use green roofs or walls where possible to soften hard surfaces and help rainwater soak in naturally.

• Leave a corner “untidy” — a patch of long grass or wildflowers can become a mini nature reserve.

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Healthy ecosystems also help manage water naturally and keep your garden thriving with less effort.

10. Keep an Eye on How Your Home Performs

Once you’ve made changes, it’s worth keeping track of how they perform.

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Use smart meters or home energy apps to see where your energy goes. Small tweaks — like adjusting thermostat settings or timing heating to your schedule — can make a big difference over a year.

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Maintain your systems too: change ventilation filters, check seals, and keep vents clear. A little upkeep keeps your sustainable features working as they should.

Final Thoughts

Sustainability doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch or spending a fortune. It’s about making smarter choices — improving comfort, cutting bills, and protecting the environment, one step at a time.

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Whether you’re adding insulation, collecting rainwater, or planting for pollinators, each upgrade builds towards a home that’s ready for the future — and a lot more pleasant to live in today.

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