You expect a lot from your home—and for good reason. These days, your home is more than a cozy place to rest your head. It’s also where you work, socialize, and exercise (and that doesn’t even cover half of it).
With all the time you’re spending at home, it’s more important than ever to ensure your house is as sustainable as possible. With a few upgrades, you can make your home better for you and the environment.
Read on for a few sustainability-supplementing solutions (say that ten times fast!).
Materials Matter
Whether you’re planning on gut-renovating your kitchen or installing a new roof, the materials you choose for your home matter. These days, there are plenty of options for building supplies that cause less environmental damage. Sometimes green materials are slightly more expensive, but they’re worth it in the long run. Consider using the following:
- Bamboo – Bamboo isn’t just good for pandas. It’s also a great building material because it grows quickly and can be re-planted easily. Unlike synthetic building materials, it helps the environment as it grows since it replenishes oxygen in the atmosphere.
- Recycled carpet – Can you guess what recycled carpet is made of? If you walked barefoot across this super soft material, you’d never know it was made from old plastic bottles. Pretty cool, right?
- Recycled glass countertops – If you go with recycled glass countertops, you might end up chopping veggies on an old windshield or wine glass—without the slightest idea! This material is as beautiful and functional as it is interesting, and you’ll get the same level of durability as you would with granite.
Lighten Up on Energy Usage
Seems like a bit of an oversimplification, doesn’t it? But doing so is easier than you might think—makes sense that it’s so simple. All you need to do is change your lightbulbs, and you’ll dramatically reduce the amount of energy each fixture uses.
LED bulbs are much more sustainable than traditional halogens, and they also last a lot longer. LED light efficiency doesn’t mean a harsh, artificial glow, though. There are plenty of styles and colors to choose from!
Do a Deep Clean
You might be wondering, what does cleaning have to do with sustainability? But doing a deep clean of your appliances can actually boost their efficiency and help them run properly.
Take a look at the coils and inner workings of your appliances, and make sure they’re free of dust, dirt, and grime. Your refrigerator and your dryer usually need the most attention.
The best part is this upgrade is 100% free!
Soak Up the Sun
We aren’t talking about getting your tan on. Nope, we literally mean soak up the sun—with solar panels. Installing solar panels is an investment, but it reduces your reliance on the energy grid and it’s the most sustainable, pollution-free energy option available. Consider installing solar panels to power your:
- Hot water heater
- Heated swimming pool
- Outdoor lighting
- HVAC system
Many people assume that solar energy can only be harnessed in warm climates. However, solar technology has come a long way in recent years, and now you can find solar panels that are designed to withstand freezing temperatures.
Safe. Sustainable. Affordable.
That’s right, by following the tips above you’ll not only be protecting the environment, but you’ll also be looking out for your family and your finances as well.
Switching to sustainable materials reduces you and your family’s exposure to potentially hazardous materials, and using less energy earns you a lower utility bill at the end of the month. So, what are you waiting for?
It’s time to turn your home into an eco-friendly powerhouse (pun intended).
