Sustainable homes are a huge trend today. This is because a lot of people are deciding to go green both for the sake of the environment and making their lives significantly easier and better. By using sustainable materials for their homes, they are turning their homes into energy-efficient dwellings that are capable of saving them a lot of money.
So, what better than to go for the solution that is both Earth-friendly and easy on your wallet?
Before we get down to some fantastic sustainable home improvements that you should consider, it is important to note that it would be wise to do a home energy audit first. This way you’ll know which steps are most important for you to take.
Paint your rooms properly
As one of the simpler home improvements, it would be wise to cover all the walls in your home with a fresh coat of paint. But not just any paint. There is a wide variety of certified eco-friendly options that you can choose from. These are great because, unlike regular paint that most often emits harmful, substances into the air, they significantly decrease your carbon footprint.
You can also choose to use mistint paint. Mistints are basically paints that were custom-made for customers but ended up being a bit off. If this isn’t a problem for you, then you can purchase them for a significantly lower price while making sure that they don’t end up in some landfill and pollute the environment.
Install solar panels
Solar panels are an amazing technological product that has become quite affordable for regular homeowners. Furthermore, by implementing them into your home, you will save a lot of energy and no matter how much money you’ve spent on them, it will surely pay off in the long run.
There is a variety of solutions when it comes to solar panels. For starters, you can install a system that is connected to the grid. What it does is that when the panels produce more energy than your home ends up using, the rest is sent to the grid. So, when the situation is reversed and your panels don’t produce enough energy, the grid provides you with how much you need. You can also opt for an off-grid system, which charges a bank of batteries instead.
Of course, solar panels can also be used for supplemental energy that can power certain aspects of your home that are low-demand. This includes, for example, electric fences or outdoor lights.
Maintain your HVAC and plumbing systems
Both your HVAC and plumbing need some proper maintenance in order to make sure that your home remains a sustainable one. For starters, make sure that the air filter gets changed at least once a month. If you don’t do that, your HVAC unit is going to have to put in extra work to do its job, which is bound to cost more. Also, the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, so take care of the fan motor, condenser coils, and drain pans.
On the other hand, you need to keep in mind that warm summer days mean that you are going to use more water. If your plumbing system isn’t in a proper state, you can end up having problems. A clogged sink is a pretty common one. It can be prevented by draining the sink on a regular basis. If it does get blocked, you can solve the problem with baking soda and vinegar. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you could come across bigger issues that need to be solved ASAP. Look for a same day plumbing service to help you out if this happens.
Use eco-friendly appliances
Every appliance out there has an energy label on it, as well as a rating that goes along with it. This is the situation where you should look for the ones that are the most eco-friendly. For example, if you are getting a new fridge, check what kind of lights it’s using. If it’s LED lighting, then you are on the right track.
You have to be wary of greenwashing scams. Inform yourself about the guidelines that you can trust, and don’t trust just any supplier out there. Not every green label means that you are getting what you are looking for, so learn how to make a distinction.
Final words
Finally, you should separate the improvements that you can do yourself from the ones that you need help with. For the latter, you should look for a professional and trustworthy contractor.
Finding one isn’t always easy, but in time you’ll be able to see how good they are at what they do and form a relationship with them. This is important because having a contractor “of your own” will make sure that the job gets done properly.
