Improvement Tips For A Greener Home!
Green homes are not only comfortable to live in, but also energy efficient. Everyone wants smart ways to cut down energy bills. To make your home greener will do more than just lower your bills. It will reduce your carbon footprint significantly.
A green home is designed with the environment in mind. It is optimized to conserve energy by using up as little energy as possible. Green homes are built using environmentally friendly materials that don’t pose a threat to the ecosystem. A green house improves both the outdoor and indoor environment, air quality, and is friendly to your pocket as well.
Some of the features of a green home include indoor plants and solar panels. Plus, a backyard garden – for fresh food supply. Some people also love having larger outdoor gardens in their homes. It is a great way to generate more fresh food. Producing food in your backyard means you don’t have to pay heavy taxes. Not to mention, you will be eating healthy, organic foods.
Any home can be transformed into a green one. You need to have the house inspected (or do it yourself) to identify areas that need to be worked on. Many of the older homes may have a faulty wiring system which may need to be replaced. Some additional construction work will be needed.
You may also have to upgrade the entire house’s plumbing system, fixtures and electrical appliances. You may need to add more insulation to it. Having a professional do the energy audit is highly recommended. The audit should come with a report on recommendations. It should list the best areas and upgrades to work on. Below are five improvement tips to help make your home greener.
Insulate and Seal All Leaks
Ensuring your house is insulated correctly is the first step to improving its energy efficiency. Look out for areas prone to air leakage (doors, windows, attic, etc.), and add an extra layer of insulation if need be. You also need to have leaky plumbing, faucets, and fixtures replaced to reduce water wastage.
All ventilations and ducts ought to be cleaned as well. Have the windows and doors sealed and ducts/ventilations sealed off with tape. The basement and attic can also cause significant heat loss/gain if not well insulated. Consider adding an extra layer of insulation, seal off air leaks with spray foam insulation or caulk around windows and doors.
Replace Windows and Doors with Higher Energy Rated Ones
Newer windows and doors are considerably more energy efficient when compared to older ones. Especially if they are more than six years old. Some of these have double or even triple glazing, hence the significantly higher R-value. The double or triple glazed panes are filled with an insulating gas to improve the efficiency. You’ll also enjoy tax deductions when you invest in energy efficient doors.
Go for Energy Efficient Home Appliances
If you have appliances that are over 5 years old, you should know that they consume more power. Replacing these with more energy efficient ones should help you see a significant drop in energy bills. This applies to the water heater, refrigerator, HVAC system, TV, HI-FI, light bulbs, and computers included. Investing in a programmable thermostat should also help reduce heating and ventilation energy consumption. A bioethanol fireplace can be a good idea. Unlike other forms of fireplaces, bioethanol fireplaces don’t need a vent.
Plants play a significant role in reducing carbon footprint and our wellness. First indoor plants improve the quality of air indoors by using up carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. They also filter out toxic compounds in the air. This is to ensure your indoor air quality is optimal. The fresh supply of pure oxygen given off by plants helps our bodies deal with stress, anxiety, and moods. In addition to having indoor plants, you can invest in outdoor plants for shade, improved air quality, and as a source of income too.
Take Advantage of Wind and Solar Energy
The wind and sun are an unlimited source of energy, which when tapped, can help power most home and office applications with ease. Instead of depending on the national electricity grid and fossil fuels for energy, why not invest in a clean source of energy such as the sun, wind, and water current. Windmills and solar panels come in handy in harvesting power, which can be used to reduced water bills, carbon footprint, and even bring in some returns as benefits.
Adopting some of the above-mentioned energy efficiency methods will contribute to saving the globe from global warming among other greenhouse effects. In addition to this, you get to live a comfortable life while saving big on energy bills.
Is your home green?
Let me know, til then–cheers m’deres!