Eco-Friendly Home Makeovers

Eco-Friendly Home Makeovers

Looking to minimize your impact on the world and enjoy an eco-friendly, “green” lifestyle? This practical guide is packed with simple ways to help the environment and create a healthier home for you and your family. From reducing energy usage and waste to making eco-friendly home improvements, see how you can repair and remodel your home without giving up comfort (or blowing your budget).

Audit

The first thing you should do is begin with a home energy audit to make a complete inventory of all your household appliances that use electricity and water. An energy audit is a good way to determine how efficient (or, let’s face it… inefficient) your appliances may be, and whether your home heating and cooling system is running efficiently.

CFL Lighting

No need to feel overwhelmed, simply start small by replacing your incandescent light bulbs with more efficient and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Although they’re more expensive up front, they use a third of the energy needed by standard light bulbs and usually last ten times longer.

Bonus tip: If you notice that daylight provides sufficient lighting, always flip off the lights to save even more.

Smart Appliances

Electronic devices and appliances consume 20% electricity, so remember to unplug them when you’re not using them or use a smart power strip. Consider replacing old appliances with the Energy Star label alternatives to save the most money and energy. Whether it’s a toaster or a dishwasher, these upgrades will help reduce your carbon footprint while saving money on utilities.

Zero-VOC Paint

Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air, and according to the EPA, is considered one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes are among the leading causes. Paint releases low level toxic emissions into the air for years after their application.

The source of these toxins comes from a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint. Now, new environmental regulations, as well as consumer demand, have led to the development of zero-VOC paints. Always read the labels and buy no more product than you need.

Programmable Thermostat

If you really want to save energy in the long-run, install a smart programmable thermostat. Simply program it to turn off when you are away from your home and to turn on about 30 minutes before you’ll be home again so you’re not unnecessarily cooling or heating your home.

Bonus tips: Turn up your thermostat: You use 1 to 3 percent less energy for every degree that it’s set above 72. And use the AC only on the hottest days; remember to turn off your system (or set it to “vacation” mode) when you’re out of town.

Efficient HVAC

Selecting an efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is also an integral part of building or renovating an eco-friendly home. Since heating and cooling accounts for more than half of your home’s energy consumption, eco-conscious homeowners can save a lot by replacing older units (especially if they are over ten years old). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives some of the most energy efficient equipment its ENERGY STAR label.

Bonus tip: take advantage of the sun’s heat in the winter (or avoiding it in the summer). During the cold months, open your windows facing south to let the sun naturally heat up your home. Do the opposite in the summer months. Also, make sure that curtains aren’t blocking air vents.

Green Living

With these simple swaps and green upgrades, you’ll not only help save the environment but save on electricity expenses, too. Any structural upgrades you make to your home will also be valuable when it comes time to sell as “green homes” are increasingly sought-after by most homebuyers today.