How To Make Energy Improvements On Your Green Home
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Many people are concerned about our impacts on the environment as worldwide pollution is getting worse, climate change is accelerating, and some ecosystems have even disappeared. It’s important to remember that even small efforts by individuals eventually add up to bigger results, so don’t give up hope.
Fortunately, one of the easiest places to start making green improvements in your life is right in your own home. There are even many ways to go green on a budget. Whether it’s simply reducing your use of plastic, installing insulation or adding solar panels to your property, consider these tips on ways to make energy improvements to your green home.
Improve Your Insulation
When you don’t have proper insulation, a huge amount of heat is lost through the roof, walls, and floor of your home, increasing your energy bills and wasting fuel. Because there are so many different types of insulation, you will want to be sure you are selecting the correct type for your needs, which you can easily learn more about here. The priority should be to insulate your roof first, then the walls, and finally the floor. Watch how quickly your fuel bills decrease!
Dual-Paned Windows
In addition to insulation, dual-paned windows will contribute to saving up to 50% on energy expenses, keeping the heat inside during winter and out during summer. Replacing old skylights with new efficient ones can add the benefit of passive solar heating to your home. Install skylights facing south to collect solar energy for eco-friendly passive solar heating. Replacing old, leaky windows with new dual-paned ones can also freshen up the look of your home instantly, and even soundproof it! Be sure to research the different types of windows first, such as gas-filled, air-filled, and silver-coated, so you get the right product for your needs. Consider using thermal mass building materials, such as brick, stone, concrete, and tile in your work.
Use Eco-Friendly Paint
An easy way to go green and make sustainable updates to your home is by using eco-friendly paint materials, such as milk paint or acrylic paint. Sustainable paint keeps airborne toxins out of your home and requires no toxic products for clean-up. Try maximizing your home’s energy efficiency by using lighter colors on the walls, as they reflect heat and light.
Replace Your Light Bulbs
A very affordable, easy, and energy-efficient improvement to your home is to replace incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. One LED bulb lasts 15 times longer and uses up to 90% less energy than an incandescent bulb. Using LED light bulbs can save you money in the long run. You can also replace your exterior landscape lighting with LED lights to save energy.
Add Ceiling Fans
Use ceiling fans to get air flowing. Ceiling fans are easy to install and can lower your energy usage by 40 percent in summer and 10 percent in winter. Try running your ceiling fan clockwise during winter to push warm air collected at the ceiling down into circulation in the room
Replace The Water Heater
Lower water heating bills by replacing your old water heater with a tankless water, heat pump, or solar water heater. While on-demand water heaters are more expensive to buy upfront, they are from 8% up to 50% more energy-efficient because they heat water only when needed. Old water heaters continuously heat from 20 to 80 gallons of water even when it isn’t being used. Remember to add insulation around hot water pipes.
Use The Washing Machine Properly
Avoid turning the washing machine on without a full load. It will cost you less if you do one full load than two small loads of washing, saving electricity, water, and cleaning products. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. Air or line dry your clothes naturally, rather than putting them in a tumble dryer. If the weather is cold outside, you can still dry your clothes inside; just choose a room with good ventilation or open a window to let water vapor out.
Turn Appliances Off
Even if your appliances are on standby, especially TVs, make sure to turn them off. You can reduce your electricity bill by around 10% by turning off and unplugging appliances that are not in use. Also, don’t forget to turn the lights off when leaving a room.
Victoria Lim is a lifestyle writer who enjoys taking long walks with her dog, and always travels with a big pack of gummy bears.
