With all the technological advancements of today, living a greener life and improving the energy efficiency of your home has become much easier than in the decades before. In doing so, we’re not only helping preserve our planet but we’re also able to make some savings along the way.
The main advantages of energy-efficient homes are that they reduce excess energy consumption, lower greenhouse gasses emissions and the demand for non-sustainable materials and resources. There are many ways to begin transforming your home into an energy-efficient hub and here are several of them to help you get started.
Improve your home insulation
One of the first and very important steps to take towards an energy-efficient home is improving its insulation. Without proper home insulation, a lot of heat is lost during the winter months and a lot of electricity is used to keep the house comfortably cool in summer months. This only means your heating/cooling bill will skyrocket and our environment will suffer for it. One way to start is with weather stripping windows and doors, replacing them with new models with double-glazed panes if necessary and then moving on to insulating the basement, crawl spaces and the attic, which are all the weakest spots of every house. It sounds like a massive job and initial costs may be big, but long-term, there will be many benefits – your heating/cooling bill will be reduced and the time spent indoors much more comfortable and pleasant.
Save electricity
Traditional incandescent light bulbs have proven to be inefficient energy-wise in comparison to CFLs and LEDs, as they consume up to 8% more electricity, have higher carbon emissions and last much shorter. Therefore, making the decision to switch from the old one to new eco-friendly, energy-saving lighting will have a positive effect both on your electricity bill and your carbon footprint. In addition to lighting, the kitchen appliances are another major energy consumer as they are plugged in non-stop and if they’re not Energy Star rated, they will keep devouring electricity. By making the investment and purchasing energy-efficient models, you'll make great savings in the long run. Moreover, you can take things one step further and make it a habit to unplug your smaller appliances and well as your computer and TV when not in use because even if they're in standby mode, they still consume electrical energy.
Go solar
Going solar is a decision that will greatly contribute to your reduction of electricity costs by allowing you to produce your own energy. The most natural and sustainable energy source is our sun so it makes perfect sense to harness its power and make it a part of your home. In the last decade, solar panels have improved their quality and efficiency and their prices have come down a bit. Having them installed will lower your energy bill, provide clean and renewable energy for your home, make you energy-independent and allow you to even make some money by selling the excess energy to the supplier. Solar system is a complex system and one particularly important part is the inverter. When you decide to have your solar panels installed, make sure you go for the best and opt for Sunny Boy inverter that comes in a variety of power sizes and is easily integrated in home off-grid systems which allows you to produce clean renewable energy and protect your home against unexpected energy cost rises.
Consider new construction materials
You can also significantly reduce your home's environmental impact by using sustainable building materials, whether you're building a new home or doing some improvements and construction work in your existing home. Today, there's a wide range of new building materials such as new cement blends, “smart” concrete and eco-friendly flooring options that in combination with repurposed wood, bamboo, cork, linoleum and organic fabrics used in interior design, can turn your home into a true green and environmentally-friendly oasis.
Reduce your water consumption
Excess water consumption is another factor that impacts our environment negatively and one way to solve this is installing low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets. But what is more important is adopting positive habits that will go a long way in reducing your water consumption: close your taps while you brush your teeth or shave and don’t run your washer only half-full. Also, set the temperature on your water heater to warm, which is around 120°F. These simple adjustments will lower your water bill and make your home more efficient. Turning your home into an energy-efficient one and helping save the environment along the way is a task that isn’t as difficult as it used to be. By implementing these ideas, you’ll quickly have a comfortable, green home, smaller utility costs and the satisfaction of knowing you’re contributing to the preservation of our planet.
Lana Hawkins is a young architect and a home décor blogger on Smooth Decorator. She enjoys writing about interior decoration and landscaping. Lana is interested in sustainability and green building, and that's where she gets most of her inspiration from.
