Five Easy Eco-Friendly Updates for Your Home
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One of the most exciting aspects of buying a new home is updating it to your preferences. From changing the paint color to more ambitious projects like knocking out walls and adding rooms, most homeowners enjoy making their new house into the home of their dreams. Given today’s focus on eco-friendly living, however, many homeowners are opting to make their new homes as green as possible. Read on for five simple eco-friendly updates you can bring to your new home.
Upgrade the insulation
One of the easiest ways to make your home more energy-efficient is to update its insulation. Don’t worry though – you don’t have to rip apart your walls. For most homes, merely revamping the insulation in the attic can go a long way toward lowering your energy bills and creating a more eco-friendly home. To give your attic an update, look for an eco-friendly insulation like GreenFiber Cocoon, which is made from recycled newspapers and is treated with natural fire retardants.
Give your furnishings a face-lift
If you’re looking to create an eco-friendly living space, consider updating some of your old furniture with more eco-friendly options. Rugs woven from sustainable jute fibers can replace synthetic models, you can give your sofa an update with one that features organic fabric and wool batting, and you can even make cuddling up by the fire a little greener by burning Java-Logs, which are made from repurposed carbon grounds and emit less carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.
Pay attention to your appliances
When they’re old, outdated, or not working correctly, appliances can be some of the biggest energy-sucks in a home. Look for more energy-efficient appliances by searching energystar.gov. Additionally, it’s easy to lower costs and conserve energy by line-drying certain clothing and thinking twice about what needs to be washed and what can go back into the drawer.
Compost kitchen scraps
Right now, about 40% of all the food produced in America winds up in the trash. Do your part to reduce the waste by composting your kitchen scraps. It’s easy to find a small countertop composting pail that you can use to catch things like veggie heels and eggshells. Once the pail is full, move its contents to a larger, outdoor bin and use the rich soil to give your potted plants and outdoor trees a boost.
Run a ceiling fan
If you have a woodstove or are looking for ways to heat your entire home in the winter, consider installing a ceiling fan (if you don’t already have one) and running it in reverse at a slow speed. Since heat rises, doing this can help circulate warm air around the home, which saves money on your heating bill and eliminates cold spots in the home.
When it comes time to customize your new home, consider taking on a few of these eco-friendly updates. In addition to saving you money on heating and utility bills, these easy updates also help you waste less and conserve more!
