Did you know that you can save energy in your home with a sustainable design? It’s a very attractive way to reduce your electricity bill and one that’s easy to implement at home. In this article, we’ll tell you how to do it.
Would you start building a house from the roof down? Just as you wouldn’t do that, you can’t start saving without first reviewing your electricity and gas contracts. You need to start with the basics – in this case, making sure you’re happy with your energy supplier, whichever one it is within the energy sector. How do you reach that conclusion? That’s where tariff comparison tools come in: by entering your supply details, you can find out which tariffs are cheapest for you. You may realise that with your current supplier – let’s assume that’s the one you’re currently with – you’re not saving any money, whereas others are offering very attractive tariffs. In that case, ring your supplier, cancel your contract with them and switch to another provider as soon as possible.
Similarly, do the same when signing up for natural gas. You can also find comparison websites for natural gas which work in the same way as those for electricity and which will help you find the cheapest price for you. All this assumes that both utilities are already connected; if you need to set up a new supply for natural gas or electricity, the procedure will be different.
Join the sustainable design movement
Now you really can get involved in sustainable design. We’re going to give you an introductory lesson, but it’s up to you to remain committed to this cause. Do you know what this term means? We could define sustainable design as architecture that works hand in hand with nature and is guided by the principles of economic, ecological and social sustainability. What are the characteristics of sustainable design?
- It is environmentally friendly. The product must be eco-friendly and help to protect the environment.
- Use of clean energy. Its design has been anything but conventional; its function has been carefully considered from start to finish, and it must incorporate green energy sources
- Positive impact. Sustainable design aims to improve people’s lives whilst living in harmony with nature.
- Think of future generations. One of its main features is that it aims not to leave future generations with a bleak future; for this reason, it is expected to be viable in the long term.
- Minimising resource consumption. To minimise resource consumption, we need to create products that have a long service life and can be reused or recycled.
- Give them more lives. In relation to the previous point, one of the basic principles of sustainable design is the multiple lives that objects can be given. The aim is to repurpose them and ensure they are biodegradable. The concept of “waste” is not recognised.
- Well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing. None of the principles mentioned above detract from the fact that this product is still visually appealing and that great care has been taken with its details.
Examples of sustainable design
- Wood is the sustainable material par excellence. It can be used both for constructing buildings and for making small decorative items. Its range of colours lends elegance and aesthetic appeal, and it has the power to transform cold spaces into cosy places.
- Furthermore, rugs may be second-hand and provide excellent thermal insulation. It has been shown that households with this type of décor see a significant reduction in their electricity bills.
- Lamps that last more than 25 years with LED bulbs. It’s impossible to save energy unless you start replacing traditional bulbs with LEDs. Along the same lines, lamps are one of the items that lend themselves best to being repurposed: bottles, vases… There are countless possibilities.
- 100% chairs that have been recycled, or that were previously used for another purpose. Chairs made from cork, others made from recycled materials, tyres… For designers, this is one of their favourite items thanks to the variety of shapes and materials they can be made from.
