The ABC’s of How to Make Your House More Green, Energy Efficient and Eco-Friendly

Energy costs make up a significant part of most families’ monthly expenses. But there are diverse ways
to reduce this recurring cost and protect the environment. A few of them are easy to implement without
spending a huge amount of money. Others require you to make an investment that will yield energy
savings for many years and even increase the value of your home.

A sustainable home can help you enjoy up to 80% savings on electricity while reducing environmental
pollution. Here are some of the most important methods and technologies you can apply to create a
green(er) home.

Install Double Pane Windows

Single pane windows permit energy loss. You can reduce your cooling and heating costs by up to 25
percent by installing energy-efficient double pane windows. Installing double pane or double glazed
windows all around your home may not be cheap, but the energy savings will accumulate over the
years. Instead of trying to replace all your single pane windows at once, you can carry out the
replacement in phases.

If you cannot afford to change all your windows, you can purchase an insulator kit. It contains a plastic
film that seals the windows. While this solution is not as durable, it is better than living in a home with
poorly sealed windows.

Setup Solar Panels

Solar panels will help you to reduce your electricity bills and reduce pollution from the burning of gas
and fossil fuels to produce electricity. With the tax credits, incentives and rebates, solar panels are fast
becoming an attractive eco-friendly option for generating electricity. In some states, rebates and
incentives can reduce the initial purchase cost by up to 50 percent. This also reduces the time to recoup
the investment significantly.

The amount of time required to recover your investment depends on the efficiency of the panels. While
some manufacturers are improving on the efficiency of traditional solar panels, others are creating
entirely new types of integrated solar systems. A good example is a solar system that has rotating
panels. The panels rotate and capture an optimum quantity of solar energy as the sun rises and sets over
a period of about 10 to 11 hours. It is also portable, making it easy for you to move it and install it in
another location when needed.

It is not compulsory to set up a vast array of solar panels to enjoy the benefits of clean energy. You can
start by setting up a solar water heater that will provide lower electricity expenses. The initial cost of
installing this technology is much lower than the cost of setting up panels to generate electricity. So you
can recoup your investment much faster, usually within two years.

You should also be aware that your solar panel installation will not only qualify you for tax rebates, it will
also allow your property to go up in value. Should you need to finance further construction or
remodeling, you’re bound to get far more favorable conditions when applying for a home loan.

Insulate Your Home

Poor insulation can raise your energy usage by 10% annually. It is vital to insulate different parts of your
building including the basement, attic and all the areas where you have doors and windows. Whether
you decide to seal up all the openings by the doors and windows by yourself or you hire a contractor,
you will cut down on energy waste and make significant savings that run into hundreds of dollars per
year.

To complement your insulation, you can also install a programmable thermostat. A programmable
thermostat will enable you to save money by cooling or heating the home only when you need it. You
can program your air conditioner to come on as soon as you wake up and to go off when you are going
to work.

Harvest Your Rain Water

Harvesting your rainwater will help you to prevent erosion within and around your yard. You can also
use the water you collect for gardening, irrigation and flushing toilets.

You may install a rainwater collection system that connects to the gutter and link it all around your roof.
If you do this as a do-it-yourself project, you can save hundreds of dollars you might pay a contractor.
However, it may be better to hire a reliable roofer to do it, since your local authorities may require you
to comply with certain building codes.

Use Energy Efficient LED Lighting

LED bulbs use 80% less energy than the old light bulbs. They last longer, give very bright light and
produce a negligible amount of heat. That’s why you should go into every room in your home and
replace the old bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. The illumination or brightness of light from LED
bulbs can also be controlled. So you can have dim light that is cooler and produces less eye strain.

Do you have any suggestion or tips that have help your save money and help you live greener? Please share in the comment section.

Please share this article and help educate as many people as we can on how to live green, eco-friendly and be energy-efficient while they save money.

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About the author

Marla

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Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog! I believe in living green, organically, and natural in every aspect of our lives. My mission is to help educate you on how to live green, help save our environment and to help you and your family live a happier, healthier life!