The thought of living in an eco friendly manner may fill you with dread. The immediate picture tends to be a life of no electricity and basic clothing, devoid of luxury. But don’t worry, you can relax, as eco upgrades are perfect for even the most stylish of homes. Most eco solutions work behind the scenes, so you can focus on your fashion forward interior.

With that said, consider these eco upgrades so you can live in a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way, while still enjoying a stylish home.

Stylish Homes and Cheaper Living: 5 Eco Upgrades for Your Property

Image via: Home Ideas

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1. Use an Electricity Monitor

It can be frustrating when you receive an energy bill and can’t work out how you have used so much electric. To avoid surprises in the mail, you could buy an electricity monitor. As the name suggests, these allow you to track your home’s energy consumption. By tracking usage, the average household consumes 15% less energy, saving money year after year.

2. Install A Programmable Thermostat

In the cold months, it’s often a case of leave the heating on all day, or arrive home from work to find icicles. A programmable thermostat can solve all of that, as the majority have 6 daily adjustable time slots, meaning you only have to turn the heating on when it’s needed. Basically, it’s a simple digital eco conscious solution that promises comfort and savings. It also allows you to remove that old, bulky thermostat from the living room wall – bonus!

3. Increase Your Insulation

There’s three different areas you can utilise insulation: in walls, under floors and in the loft. There’s also a number of methods – each carrying different price tags – including fibreglass, blanket rolls, spray foam and reflective systems. However, depending on the type of property you own, some may be of more financial benefit than others. For example, if you own a period property, external solid wall insulation could save you up to £450 a year.

4. Upgrade your Kitchen Appliance Technology

When it comes to buying new kitchen appliances and technology, make sure to purchase those with a high energy rating – the best being AAA. By doing so, you will be reducing your carbon footprint as well as helping to minimise your monthly energy costs. Plus, even the best and biggest refrigerators, dishwashers and televisions are available with top energy ratings, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice on style.

Image via: Sub-Zero Wolf

5. Choose Dual Flush Toilets

As the name states, a dual flush toilet has two different settings: one for low volume and one for high. This clever mechanism reduces water usage, as the lower setting uses an average 1 gallon per flush, while traditional systems can use up to 5. This can save thousands of gallons of water per year, leading to huge annual savings, as well as reducing environmental impact.

For more energy savings tips on Stagetecture, click here.