Whether you choose to build an environmentally friendly home or adapt your lifestyle to being more Eco-conscious, you cannot go wrong by finding out what sustainability looks like for you and your family. Sustaining a green lifestyle is easier if you can adapt your living space to help you stay on the path.
Some people have bought land to build an environmentally friendly home using sustainable materials and building methods. This means that living within their home reduces their carbon footprint. But buying land can be expensive for others, yet more people may not be able to move away from the city to become more sustainable.
Luckily, some property management firms specialize in helping people to find the exact home they want. This can mean a townhouse that has been modernized with energy-efficient appliances or a condominium with an environmentally friendly design. Either way, it is about educating yourself to know what is best for achieving your green goals.
Use Solar Panels
Installing solar panels can help to reduce your reliance on the power supply. Solar panels are a great way to collect and store the energy required for all your water heating needs. If you install enough solar panels, you can reliably use this energy for a majority of your appliance usage as well. This will drastically reduce your power bill and lower your carbon footprint. Many states also offer tax incentives to people who use green energy. You can save money on two fronts while helping the environment.
Educate Yourself
There are many eco-friendly products and home maintenance technologies out there. Carve out some time to learn about them, understand the systems, and find out the different price points and ingredients. This will help you to know what would be an effective replacement for cleaning products you currently use. Taking the time to understand the ingredients and production process will guarantee that you support an environmental cause without losing the level of cleanliness you like to have.
Consider Space Reduction
A large living space uses more energy to heat or cool than a small living space. The energy savings are greater if you downsize to a home that is just enough for your needs. They require less cleaning products, generate less waste, and help to keep hoarding low while improving organization.
Focus on Re-using Products
Recycling has become easier to do, and there are increasing options for where you can take your recyclable goods. But re-using can be a little harder to get used to though it will help reduce your waste.
Adopt a policy of getting products that you can re-use, from tea bags to glass containers. Glass jam jars can be used to store leftovers or for potting herbs. Silicone baking cups eliminate the need for paper cupcake liners. Taking Tupperware containers with you to restaurants reduces the need for plastic takeaway containers, and metal straws reduce your reliance on plastic straw usage.
Energy Audit Your Home
It is a good idea to get an energy audit of your home as there may be leaks in places you do not suspect. Detecting these leaks and fixing them can help to reduce your heating bills drastically. Sometimes the issue is with failing insulation. Finding this out can help you to fix the problem before it gets worse and more costly. Consider using a more eco-conscious source of insulation to replace the old one.
Change Your Windows
Energy-efficient Energy Star windows can tell you how much energy you will save by installing them. Double glazed and wood-framed windows can also help to eliminate heat loss. The right windows will help you to conserve energy and save money.
Use LED Lighting
Replace all your lights with LED lights. LED lights last longer than regular bulbs, use much less power, use the power more efficiently, and not waste power through heat generation.
They are also easier to control as these lights can be dimmed or brightened via smartphone or tablet. Smart lighting systems can be attuned to respond to people entering a room and switch off automatically when they detect that the room is empty. It is a great way to ensure that your forgetfulness will not result in energy waste.
Smart technology might be one of the most modern ways to help your home become energy efficient without compromising your lifestyle. A great example of this is the smart thermostat. The smart thermostat can be controlled via smartphone and programmed to follow simple instructions. You can have the thermostat turn off the heating when everyone has left the house and begin heating the home half an hour before the family returns.
You will be able to walk into a home that is the right temperature and not have to worry about adjusting it. The smart thermostat monitors each room separately and will adjust the heat levels to match the number of people occupying that room. This allows you to adjust to a sustainable way of life at your own pace.