Rarely a day goes by on the news where there isn’t a story about climate change and an increasing number of businesses and individuals are becoming more aware of their own impact on the environment.
Homeowners are looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint but could one of those be relating to the damp proofing of the house?
Worrying records
According to data from US institutions such as NASA and the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2016 was the warmest year since records began back in 1880. Global temperatures were almost one degree Celsius warmer than the average temperature for the last two decades and while this might not seem a lot, it makes an enormous difference on a planetary scale. It is also the third year in a row to break that record so there’s no reason to think 2017 won’t continue the trend.
How homes increase our carbon footprint
As an individual, our homes are usually the biggest element of our carbon footprint, a term used to describe the impact that our lives have on the environment. Two of the main reasons for this is from heating and electricity usage but there are also lots of other ways that our homes waste resources and increase our carbon footprint.
The increase in smart heating systems is a classic example – no-one is advocating turning off the heating in winter or forgoing the air conditioning in summer. But by using smart systems to regular the house temperature, you can reduce your carbon footprint and also control your heating bills. There is a government scheme in place to help with this and many utility suppliers are offering to install smart meters for their customers.
Insulation and damp proofing
One of the biggest reasons that homes have a high carbon footprint is because they leak heat and let the cold in through a range of weak spots. Insulation is often top of the list – if you have ever seen a house in the snow that has no snow on it, they have poor insulation. This is because all the heat from the house has risen out through the roof and melted the snow. A good covering of snow is actually a sign of good loft insulation.
There are other ways that the cold and damp can get into your home and the warmth get out. Damp proof courses are used to stop the natural absorption of groundwater up into walls, but if they are missing or don’t work properly, this can lead to damp. Not only does this cost money to repair but also means your home isn’t energy efficient. Other types of damp may indicate weaknesses in roofing or guttering that let heat out and rain in.
Conclusion
There are lots of ways to reduce our carbon footprint from the perspective of our homes. From improving insulation and updating the damp proof course to using energy efficient windows and doors, our homes can often be improved, saving us money and helping us do our bit towards saving the environment too. Tapco HomeDry, damp course specialists will be bale to resolve all damp related issues that you may have.