How to Be More Eco-Friendly in Your House

No matter if you just bought a property and can’t wait to give it your personal stamp or you wish to give your old home a modern look, you can always green up your place and invest in a healthier future.

Going green will not only ensure your place is Eco-friendly, healthy, and sustainable, but it can also save you some serious money in the long run. So, if you’re intrigued, here are some of the best Eco-friendly ideas for greener living. Make some of these changes, and you’ll be helping the environment while also putting more money in your pocket.

Install solar panels

If you want to make a significant step towards being completely sustainable, start by installing solar panels. Depending on your climate, you can supply a part of your home or even satisfy your entire electricity demand out of a completely green and renewable source.

If you can’t afford a full solar power system for your roof, you can opt for a smaller one that will supply your water heater or other smaller appliances. However, some banks even provide tax credit returns if you decide to install solar panels on your home!

These green renovation projects will undoubtedly help you live in a healthier home, but they will also ensure a cleaner, healthier, and greener future for our children and generations to come. One point to note, however, is if you are selling your home soon with solar panels don’t expect you will get all of your money back.

Adding solar panels is expensive. Solar systems can run between twenty to thirty thousand dollars. So while you will see immediate savings in your energy bill, you might not get back all of your money if you’re selling. The longer you own your solar panel system, the more profitable it will be.

Many factors will determine how much value a solar panel system will add to your home. The article above at Maximum Real Estate Exposure covers that aspect of solar panels in detail.

Also, you may want to think about adding solar panels in conjunction when it is time to replace your roof with new shingles. It does not make sense to add a solar system otherwise.

Choose Eco-friendly materials

If you’re planning any big renovation projects like replacing cabinets or redoing your floors, try to choose sustainable materials. This is a great way to reduce waste and reduce your carbon footprint.

For example, you can reuse both yours and other people’s building materials. There are great places that sell reclaimed materials like wood, metal, and glass. Also, you can be careful with new materials that you purchase and opt for renewable types. Some wood you can find on the market is locally harvested, sustainable, and doesn’t contribute to deforestation.

Be smart with deconstruction

Knocking down walls and expanding your space is a crucial part of many renovation projects. Luckily, if you’re bright with your deconstruction, you can salvage plenty of materials that can be recycled or reused.

Just deconstructing and throwing away things is very wasteful, so try to save elements like flooring, molding, fixtures, and cabinets. Even if you don’t need these materials in your new design, you can still collect them and donate them to your local recycling center.

Choose Eco-friendly paint

If you want to achieve quick results, why not repaint your space? An excellent paint color can instantly make any room feel bigger and look more stylish. However, old-school paints contain all kinds of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can harm your health. They tend to off-gas and cause everything from headaches to skin, eye, and throat irritations. Some VOCs, like formaldehyde, can even cause cancer.

Luckily, today you can find various low- or zero-VOC paints in all shades imaginable, so there are no excuses in using those old and harmful formulas. And, if you’re planning on doing repainting yourself, make sure to invest in safe scaffolding that will allow you better access and ensure you’re safe while working. These can be either bought and used in the future or rented for individual projects.

Save water

Global water shortage is raising some serious questions about our water consumption. So make sure you’re not the part of the problem by investing in water-saving fixtures. Today, you can find practical low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets that will save you gallons and gallons of precious water.

There are also Eco-friendly washing machines and dishwashers that require less water for the same functions.

Invest in Eco-friendly appliances

Old appliances are not only ugly, but they also waste a lot of energy. So, if you want to have a wonderfully modern kitchen that’s also energy-efficient, ditch and recycle your old appliances and invest in new models that will cut down on your energy usage.

Boost insulation

Every crack and every hole in your home’s insulation will suck out all the cold or hot air from your home and require you to blast your heating or cooling. Luckily, you can quickly improve your insulation and ensure your energy stays safely inside your home.

Aside from insulating your walls and ceilings, you might also want to invest in double-pane windows with a special glazing that will keep your temperatures at an optimal level.

Switching your front door for a thicker model will not only welcome all your visitors in style but add to your home’s insulation.

Incorporate natural ventilation

Make sure to employ more renewable energy into your home’s design. While your AC is practical and efficient, it can also guzzle a lot of electricity. So, make sure to remodel your space in a way that will incorporate better natural ventilation.

For instance, strategically-placed windows and patio doors will provide your home with good airflow and more sunlight. Remodeling with wind circulation and sunshine in mind will make your house design greener and more cost-effective. Plus, there’s nothing more pleasant than a light breeze and nurturing sunlight filling your home.

Final thoughts

Going green will really give you a good feeling about your home. You’ll be making a smaller impact on the environment while also saving energy in the process. Continue to research going green, and you’ll have a property that is genuinely economically friendly.

About the author: Amelia Atkins is an author at Smooth Decorator and a fresh architecture student. The love for architecture and design runs in her family. She knew what she wanted to do from a very young age. You can often find her with a notepad in hand, just looking at the clouds, dreaming about the next skyscraper.