For people who aren’t all that familiar with green technologies, it’s a matter of taking baby steps rather than giant leaps in the right direction. Once on the path to better, environmentally friendly choices for the home, it’s usually easier to do more things. Here are four tips that will make any home greener.
1. Replace an Old Roof with an Energy Efficient One
Roofs aren’t always built well or in a manner that will prevent wasted energy. When heat gets lost, it costs more money to reheat the home. Given that heat rises, much of the generated warmth is not lost through the walls, but up through the attic and eventually, through the roof.
If you hire reputable roofing contractors, they will not only install a new roof using energy-efficient materials, but they’ll also install attic insulation along with adequate ventilation. This ensures that heat isn’t lost as quickly while preventing the upper levels of the home from feeling stuffy.
2. Take a Fresh Look at the Appliances and Electronics
The appliances can be approached in several ways:
Energy-Efficient Models
Newer appliances are more energy-efficient than 10+-year-old versions. While it’s likely not worth replacing an appliance that’s still in working order and not an energy hog, older, less efficient ones should be scheduled for replacement.
While the energy savings aren’t that considerable for a single appliance, most homes have several of them which does add up.
Power Saving
Turning off lights that aren’t needed at the time and not using standby mode for the TV is a good start.
Also, look at PC standby modes for monitors and/or laptops. Additionally, Eco-friendly or Saver modes on computers and/or appliances reduce the energy usage while not significantly affecting the results received.
Lighting
LED light bulbs use 90 percent less energy than their incandescent counterparts and half as much as CFL bulbs too. Make the switch!
3. Recycle or Freecycle to Avoid Throwing Goods Away
Landfills get overloaded with consumer electronics and other assorted past purchases that were loved at one point and then discarded. While we all have items that we need to remove to declutter our lives, how we do that is another matter entirely. Look to recycle the item to put it to another use, give it to a friend who wants it, or Freecycle it.
Ensure someone else gets use of the still-functioning products that you no longer require. Avoid the needless waste of energy and raw materials that are required produce a new product in a factory.
4. Reduce the Heat Level
It is nice to feel warm and toasty, but in all honesty, we often set the thermostat too high in the colder months while still milling about in a t-shirt and jeans.
For energy efficiency, it’s much better to add an extra layer and set the temperature a few degrees lower than we usually would do. Our bodies will quickly adjust, our full range of clothing will see more use, and our energy bill will decline too. It’s a true win-win.
For a greener home, you need to make more than just one major change. A series of smaller ones can make a difference.
