Living in a sustainable home is becoming far more accessible, and this post will show you how. A sustainable home is one that has the smallest potential negative influence on the environment. This includes maximizing energy efficiency, minimizing environmental pollutants, and using materials and resources responsibly. When you build a sustainable home, you help the environment while saving money on utility bills. Saving energy and water, as well as maintaining systems and appliances, all contribute to a more sustainable home.
Making your home more sustainable would help the environment and reduce your home's ongoing expenditures by saving energy and water and maintaining systems and appliances. Furthermore, you provide a healthier atmosphere for yourself, your family, and your pets.
This post will dig deeper into what makes a house sustainable, covering sustainable home improvement ideas to aid you along your sustainability path.
Sustainable Home Improvements
Many sustainable home improvement swaps, such as replacing light bulbs, take only a few minutes to complete. Other projects need more skill and an upfront investment, but the benefits of sustainable upgrades to your home can actually save money.
Let’s discuss some of the points in detail.
1. Switch to LED light bulbs
Switching to energy-efficient lighting is a simple, inexpensive way to get started with sustainable home upgrades.
The next time a lightbulb burns out, simply replace it with an LED bulb.
Remember, choosing this option should be a no-brainer.
Although LED bulbs are slightly more expensive than typical incandescent bulbs, their durability and energy savings outweigh the cost. LED bulbs can be used throughout the home, as well as for holiday and landscape lighting.
2. Upgrade your windows
Heating and cooling your home consumes a lot of energy throughout the year, and aging windows can contribute significantly to your energy needs. According to the US Department of Energy, around 25% of house energy is lost through windows. The good news is that upgrading to dual-paned, fully sealed windows is an excellent approach to reduce waste. Although new windows can be expensive, they offer a strong return on investment, and rebates or credits are frequently available.
3. Install a tankless water heater
Traditional tank water heaters hold and heat water until it is needed. However, if you don't require that much water, you're squandering a lot of energy per year merely to keep excess water heated. Tankless water heaters are an eco-friendly solution that heats water on-demand as it runs through pipes, with the added benefit of never running out of hot water.
Although tankless water heaters are more expensive to buy and install than tank water heaters, the energy savings and longer lifespan may eventually help offset the expense.
4. Upgrade your plumbing
Since 1994, federal guidelines have mandated plumbing fixtures to consume less water. That implies that if your toilet, bathtub, shower, or other plumbing fixtures were installed before the early 1990s, you probably squandered a lot of water (and money) each year.
For example, moving to a WaterSense branded toilet model can cut water consumption by 20% to 60% per year. This corresponds to approximately $140 in savings each year, which can easily cover the cost of a new toilet within a few years.
5. Prioritize energy-efficient appliances
There have been considerable developments in energy-efficient appliances over the last few decades, such as less heat lost via the oven and more cold maintenance in the freezer. If you are looking for new appliances, consider those that are Energy Star certified. This implies that the appliance fulfills the stringent energy-efficiency standards of the United States Department of Energy.
6. Install Energy-Star ceiling fans
As heat waves become more common—even in places where temperatures were formerly more moderate—the popularity of air conditioning devices grows. However, there's an environmental cost: Air conditioning devices consume around 20% of all residential energy in America.
Even if an air conditioner is necessary in your home, you can begin to reduce how much you use it by raising the temperature and installing extra fans throughout the house. Energy Star-rated ceiling fans are 60% more efficient than ordinary ceiling fans, allowing you to stay cool while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
7. Consider switching to solar.
Solar panels are frequently mentioned when discussing environmentally responsible house improvements—and for good reason. Solar power, according to the United States Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, has the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, and minimize air pollution.
Solar panels are not only gorgeous additions to a home, but they also help you save money on your energy bills by reducing the amount of electricity your household uses. Installing solar panels gives an additional economic benefit.
Guess what? If you wish to sell the house in the near future, the solar panels could increase the sale price significantly.
8. Smart thermostat
Even if your home is adequately insulated, you may be wasting money by setting the thermostat too high or low at inconvenient times. For example, you may want the temperature to be a certain degree when you return home from work. As a result, you may leave the heat on high all day or set the thermostat to rise too early.
A smart thermostat allows you to control the temperature remotely. Also, suppose the weather unexpectedly changes and becomes warmer or colder while you're away. In that case, you may use the smart thermostat to regulate the climate at home from a distance, helping you save money on your utility bills.
In the end!
You can make numerous energy-saving renovations to your home, but with a professional review, you may be aware of which changes are appropriate for your home. All the minor changes come together to make the entire movement sustainable for the generations to come.
Remember, the slightest of changes begin with us. So, be responsible and make the world we live in a better place.
