According to a recent poll, about two-thirds of Americans say they would be “willing to try anything” to help the environment. For at least some people, that means trying to embrace sustainable living at home.
Is your house as eco-friendly as can be? If not, you might be able to do what’s best for the environment by changing this. You can create a more sustainable home in no time by taking a few simple steps.
So, how can you turn your house into a more earth-friendly home overall? It’ll all start with setting up your house to be a more energy-efficient home from now on.
We’ve put together a list of tips that’ll make it possible for you to create a sustainable home design that’ll work well for you. Check them out below to learn more about the steps it’ll take to accomplish this goal.
Install Solar Panels
Have you considered installing solar panels on your roof yet? If not, this is, hands down, the simplest way to create a more sustainable home without putting in too much effort on your part.
The cost of solar panels has gone down dramatically over the last decade. There are also all kinds of tax credits you might be able to qualify for when you install solar panels.
Think about trying to go solar with help from the best solar company around. It’ll cut your energy costs down to size and allow you to embrace renewable energy.
Replace Old Appliances
Do you have an old refrigerator, washing machine, or water heater in your home? If you do, these types of older appliances might be using way more electricity than they should on a daily basis.
Newer appliances will be more energy-efficient overall, which will work wonders for both the planet and your bottom line. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised to see how much easier most new appliances are to use compared to their older counterparts.
Switch to LED Light Bulbs
Are you still relying on incandescent light bulbs to provide light in your home? First and foremost, these light bulbs aren’t setting you up with the soft lighting you want in your home. They’re also wasting too much energy and forcing you to replace light bulbs regularly.
You’ll benefit from making the switch to LED light bulbs in a big way. These LED bulbs will use just a fraction of the energy that incandescent light bulbs do. They’ll also last for years and years so you won’t have to worry about replacing them anytime soon.
Invest in New Windows and Doors
Have you noticed the windows and doors in your home appear to be getting up there in age? This can leave them looking a little worse for wear. It can also result in these windows and doors allowing more air to enter and leave your home than you might like.
Why should you care about this? Well, when you have air from outside coming in and out of your home all the time, it can force your HVAC system to work harder than it should. This can drive your energy bills up while also putting you in a position where you may have to make repairs to your HVAC system more often than you’d like.
Installing new windows and doors will require an investment on your part. But it’ll pay off over time by saving you money on your energy bills and enabling you to live in a more sustainable home.
Put a New Thermostat in Place
Speaking of your HVAC system, are you still utilizing an old thermostat to control it? If you are, you’re probably leaving your HVAC system running for too long at times and costing yourself money.
You can take better control of your thermostat by putting a new one in place. Ideally, you should look for one that you’ll be able to control right from your smartphone regardless of whether or not you’re at home.
A thermostat like this will also start to recognize patterns and automatically turn on and off based on your heating and cooling needs. It’ll ensure your sustainable home is always on the more comfortable side.
Unplug Unused Electronics
Are there electronics you don’t use every day plugged in all throughout your home? Believe it or not, they could be wasting their fair share of energy each year without providing you with much of a return.
For this reason, it would be worth unplugging all these electronics to stop them from wasting as much energy as they are now. It could make a big difference in how much energy your home uses each month.
Recycle!
The good news for the U.S. is that about one-third of American households recycle at this point. That number is way up from just 7% about 50 years ago.
The bad news is that this means about two-thirds of American households aren’t recycling. They’re sending plastics, metals, and other recyclable items to landfills and hurting the planet in the process.
If your household isn’t recycling yet, start doing it now. It’s one of the easiest ways to create a more sustainable home without spending a single penny.
Begin Creating a More Sustainable Home Now
As you can see, creating a more sustainable home isn’t something that should take you too long. Making a few simple changes within your home can really do a lot of good for the planet.
Try some or even all of the things listed here so you’re able to create the earth-friendly home you’ve always wanted. You’ll be so glad you decided to do it when you’re all finished.
Get more tips on setting up a more energy-efficient home by reading through more of our blog articles.
