Going green benefits the world and your wallet. That’s why so many homeowners are making the transition to a more ecofriendly home: not just for the benefit of future generations, but to save a little cash on the way. When it comes to going green, then there are lots of areas of opportunity in your home you may take yourself, whether you are remodeling or building your home from the bottom up.
Passive Heating and Cooling
Going green way making the most of your home’s efficacy. Your home has to heat and cool itself on-the-fly by taking advantage of passive climate control. If you are building your home from the bottom up, take its alignment into consideration. South-facing windows work to warm your home in the winter by capitalizing on heat provided by sunlight exposure. For passive cooling in the summer, plant deciduous trees near any windows which face south, east or west. These kinds of trees permit the sunlight to warm your home during the winter and work well to shade your home in the summer when its leaves are found.
Lighting
Replace or choose light fixtures and bulbs which are ENERGY STAR-certified. Only one ENERGY STAR light bulb can save $40 in power prices for the life span of the bulb. While utilizing 75 percent less energy than a traditional light bulb. It also lasts 6 times longer and also emits 75 percent less heat compared to an incandescent light bulb. The use of ENERGY STAR lighting saves money and protects the environment contrary to greenhouse gas emissions given by the creation of energy.
Air Sealing
Without knowing it, your home could be letting in a lot of air from unseen gaps or cracks on your windows, doors, ceilings or floors, causing your heating and cooling system to really go into overdrive. By air-sealing your own home, you may produce a more eco friendly environment which saves you money and decreases energy. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, air-sealing your home is among the most cost-effective ways to spend less on heating and cooling while enhancing the ecofriendliness of your home.
Repurposed Flooring
Hardwoods are a traditional and lasting flooring alternative for your home. But instead of purchasing new hardwood floors, use reclaimed wood. Repurposed timber is an ecofriendly alternative since it’s recycled material which may be used for a long time to come. It looks good and adds character to your home. Reclaimed hardwood is a renewable resource that does not contain VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) which are released during setup. Be careful with repurposed wood which requires glue, as industrial kinds of glue commonly contain formaldehyde and VOCs. For the cheapest and greenest floors, look for repurposed hardwood floors that is prefinished and sealed in the factory to avoid exposure to harmful chemicals.