Heat relief in the sweltering summer: Strategies for maintaining cool indoor temperatures.
Greening Your Home for Climate Change Mitigation and Cost Savings
In the face of rising temperatures and the need for cost-effective solutions, greening your home can offer numerous benefits. Here are some key tips to help you transform your balcony, garden, and facade into a climate-friendly haven.
Maximize Green Planting
Embrace vertical gardens, trellises, and climbing plants on balconies and facades. These space-saving solutions not only add greenery but also cool surfaces and lower heat absorption. Popular choices for climbing plants include clematis and honeysuckle, which require a trellis to grow vertically [2].
Incorporate Energy-Efficient Features
Consider installing solar panels where possible, such as on sidelined pergolas, roofs, or facades, to generate clean, renewable energy. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers electricity costs [1][2]. Additionally, sealing air leaks, improving insulation, and installing energy-efficient appliances can help reduce energy consumption related to heating and cooling [1][5].
Harvest Rainwater
If local regulations allow, harvest rainwater for garden irrigation. This practice conserves water and lowers water bills [3].
Choose Light Colours and Reflective Surfaces
Opt for light-coloured finishes for facade and outdoor furniture. These materials reflect sunlight, helping to keep spaces cooler [4].
Employ Multi-functional Outdoor Furniture and Privacy Screens
Maximise small balcony spaces by using multi-functional outdoor furniture and privacy screens. These solutions optimise comfort and greenery without clutter [2].
Use Sustainable Lighting Solutions
Minimise electricity use and reduce light pollution by employing sustainable lighting solutions such as solar-powered or LED string lights in outdoor spaces [4].
Greening for Climate Change Mitigation
Greening a home can help mitigate the effects of climate change. Ivy and wild vine, for example, can grow up to 1.5 meters per year, providing insulation and cooling effects [6]. Root barriers can prevent the spreading of climbing plants to neighbouring houses [7].
Options for Tenants
For tenants, options include the balcony or window sills for cultivating greenery. If you're unsure about stability, always seek landlord's consent before making any changes [8].
Expert Advice
Andrea Wegner, an expert on greenery at the consumer center NRW's climate adaptation group, advises starting with what's easiest for the individual, such as a trash can shed or front garden [9]. For those who can't or don't want to do it themselves, hiring a landscape gardener is recommended [10].
Prevent Flooding
If previously sealed ground is replaced with greenery, it can absorb water during heavy rain, helping to prevent flooding [11]. Sealing ground in front of the house with gravel or asphalt can lead to flooding by preventing water absorption during heavy rain [12].
By implementing these strategies, you can improve your home's energy efficiency, reduce emissions, moderate temperatures naturally, and lower utility costs, contributing effectively to climate change mitigation.
- Incorporating energy-efficient interior design elements, such as light-coloured finishes and energy-efficient appliances, can help reduce energy consumption related to heating and cooling.
- Gardening practices like vertical gardening and harvesting rainwater for home garden use can be part of a homeowner's sustainable living and contribute to cost savings.
- To enhance greenery and promote a lifestyle that supports climate change mitigation, tenants can utilize their balcony or window sill for cultivating plants, provided they have their landlord's consent.
