The cost benefits of going green with your home are huge so we've come up with seven ways you can start going green.
Going green is a way of life wherein your daily choices and actions promote a healthier lifestyle, maintain the environment’s natural ecological balance as well as protect and preserve the Earth’s natural resources and ecosystems.
Going green at home isn't just for those who want to save the planet. It can really help your wallet. There are many steps you can take to make your home greener – some are quite expensive one-time investments while others are very simple to do and literally cost-free!
Here are a few things that you should try:
1. Use energy efficient appliances
If you are shopping for new appliances or wanting to replace old ones, look for those that bear the HE logo. They are usually more expensive than the others but they will definitely reduce your monthly electricity bill. Besides, using energy efficient appliances means less fossil fuels burned to manufacture them. Or…
2. Don’t overuse appliances
Even if you have already put energy efficient appliances all over your home, don’t overuse them unless you must. Making them work harder than they should be will only use far more energy than you should. And always make sure they are unplugged when you’re not using them.
3. Install solar panels
Solar panels are a great investment because they help you cut down on your energy bill and it also helps you to be able to produce your own electricity. The cost for installing these on your rooftop might take a good chunk out of your savings but with its 30+-year lifespan and guaranteed performance plus the fact that it can increase your home value means it’s a wise and secure investment.
4. Use double or triple glazed windows
Loss of heat is inevitable if you have traditionally built windows at home. Choose double or triple glazed windows to keep your house warm, comfortable and energy efficient. They help reduce condensation build-up, which makes them low-maintenance. Plus you minimize the risk of spreading airborne ailments so your family is more protected. Or…
5. Revamp your windows
You don’t have to wait until the next paycheck to squeeze into your budget that purchase for double/triple glazed windows. You can make your windows more energy efficient today by using what you already have at home – curtains and/or draperies, for example. It is surprising how much unwanted heat and cold you can keep out by dressing up your windows with these.
6. Insulate your home
You don’t have to be an environmentally conscious fanatic or an energy efficiency aficionado to join the home insulation bandwagon. The truth is you can save up to 50 percent on your heating and cooling bill if you properly and fully insulate your living spaces.
Cool/hot air seeps through your home in all directions – up, down, and sideways – you need to insulate not only your doors and windows but also your walls and the roof. Sensible insulation measures, if undertaken, can have you seeing less energy consumption and less environmental damage in the future.
7. Start going green by doing simple things such as:
- Reducing your consumption or buying less
- Reusing objects for another purpose
- Recycling non-biodegradable products
- Conserving natural resources
- Cultivating more plants and trees in vacant lands – or your own backyard, for that matter!
Though the list is short, we can't overemphasize the cost benefits of going green with your home. It means reduced expenses in the long run, a healthier home as well as a more sustainable world, especially for the future generation.
As more and more homeowners adopt the green mindset, it will encourage manufacturers around the world to follow the suit and make available eco-friendly products and services for green-conscious consumers. These developments would in turn make it easier for all people to adopt green living in their daily lives, starting at home.
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