The Greener, The Better

We all appreciate the need to adopt a greener lifestyle, and your home is the perfect place to start. Aside from the huge impact it can have on your carbon footprint, the right moves can actually boost your finances too. Given the costs associated with operating a modern home, those benefits should not be overlooked for a second. Going green to achieve a home that's efficient on a financial front as well as an energy one will certainly upgrade the property. So, what are the best ways to make it happen? Here's what you need to know.

Focus on insulation

Lost heat is easily the worst culprit of wasted energy in the average household. In turn, this increases the utility bills as well as your carbon footprint. Heat escaping through windows and doors can be an issue espcially in colder climates so installing or replacing old, drafty windows with double-paned (or double glazed) windows will help tremendously. Therefore, double glazing you can insulate your attic to keep the heat in. Meanwhile, using draft door stoppers on interior doors and using thicker drapes can help with energy efficiency. Many of those improvements can be made with almost instant results while some local government programs may subsidize the costs too.

Harvest electricity

Small changes like switching to LED lights or changing your habits around the home can save a little electricity. If you truly wish to reduce your electricity bills, as well as the impact you have on the ozone layer, you must do more. Utilizing solar power through the use of roof panels can harvest sunlight to power a significant portion of your home electricity needs. Moreover, the stored electricity can be sold back to the grid. It does require a one-time investment, but the benefits on multiple fronts make this a worthy undertaking. When you “go solar”, you’re essentially ensuring that your electric bills will remain the same over the years and this can add up to huge savings eventually.

Use energy-efficient appliances

Energy-efficiency shouldn't be limited to electricity usage. Water consumption is an equally integral feature. Therefore, dishwashers and washing machines with higher energy ratings are preferred. Moreover, a water-saving toilet can cut water consumption by over 70%. Energy efficient appliances like washer & dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators can save a large percentage of usage and utility bills. The money savings are a great benefit but for some, the satisfaction of using environmentally-friendly solutions play a large part.

Embrace smart tech

Modern tech can be used to enhance the home's efficiency in many ways. There are many devices on the market that are cost effective, yet, provide benefits that are more than just energy savings. For example, a learning thermostat could save you 12-15% on your heating and cooling bill. This learns your actual habits so it can better predict when to utilize the system as well as operate with efficiency in mind. A smart thermostat makes it convenient to change the temperature no matter where you are.

Grow produce

Spending more time in the garden will naturally reduce the amount of electricity and gas you use around the home. But you can take the impact to far greater heights by growing food of your own. Whether it's fruit, veg, or herbs is up to you. Given that around 40% of all food is wasted in the US, this is one of the best ways to help the environment. Better still, it encourages you to cook from scratch and employ a healthier diet, which can only be good news.