I don't own my house, but it's about this time of year I tend to start thinking about all the changes I'd make if I did. And since I'm in a constant battle with the thermostat, these are mostly focused on insulating and weatherproofing (though I'd be quite happy for some of the dodgier wallpaper to vanish overnight, too!)
So I thought I'd share some of the ideas I'd put into my dream eco home if I had one, starting with the steps I'd take to get it toasty warm in winter.
Related: Top five eco-friendly ways to keep warm in winter
Carbon cutting carpet
Laying down carpet is said to be one of the most effective ways to insulate your home, and in this respect is 10 times better than bare floorboards. And speaking as someone who grew up in a 'trendy' pared down house many years ago, I can well believe it. If draughts can get in, you can make all the promises you like about rationing central heating, but the reality is that when the mercury drops you'll either be living in a hat and coat, or reaching for the thermostat before you can say 'carbon footprint', and not in a good way. So find some carpet you like, and cover those floors. Or if that's not an option, invest in as many rugs as you can. Check out Fun on the Floor for some advice on getting carpeted up if (like me) you were brought up to rip it off any surface you came into contact with.
Alternative heating
Once I'd got the floors covered, I think I'd like to invest in some stylish furniture, but mostly in functional pieces that would cut down my reliance on central heating. First on my list would be this remarkable 'pac-man' shaped fireplace, the Vauni 'globe', which is great for the environment as it burns simple ethanol, so no smoky or ashy environment. just fill the tank up, use the integrated control to adjust the flame levels to your taste and enjoy a cozy, ash and soot-free evening. For heating the rest of the house, I'd opt for electric rather than gas central heating, which has been shown to be more energy efficient. Our own Katie Lee has seen the differences reflected in her heating bill since installing an electric system.
Eco Energy
Finally, I'd make sure that the money I did end up paying in my super-streamlined heating bills was going to a good cause, as in a company that invested in and used renewable energy to generate power as much as possible. It's not always easy to cut through the red tape and make an informed decision on which supplier is best, but I'm currently most convinced by Good Energy, whichis the UK's only 100% renewable energy supplier, and gets good press from its customers.
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