Climate change has become a serious issue for everyone around the world. Fortunately, more and more people would like to do something about it and are becoming more environmentally conscious. Being more eco-friendly can not only help the environment but can also save you a little bit of cash in the long run. You can change, upgrade and revitalize the mechanical and electrical engineering of your home to make sure that your home is more eco-friendly. It can be daunting to make these changes, but it will all be worth it in the end. Here are a few different effective ways to make your home more sustainable and eco-friendlier.
Solar Panels
Solar panels have become increasingly popular and trendy in recent years. They are essential for any eco-friendly home. They provide completely clean electricity and can even create a surplus of energy that you can sell back to the national grid. Certain areas around the country have begun to see huge uptake of solar installs; Utah is one of the best places to begin your eco-friendly journey.
One thing to note is that they are expensive but can make you money in the long run. It has been suggested that it takes 20 years to see the benefits so the earlier you make the change the better. It is also important to remember that this is not just a money-making scheme but an opportunity to help the environment.
Water
Sustainability does not just have to be about energy consumption. Many eco-friendly and environmentally conscious people have begun to take a holistic approach to the changes they make in their homes and have begun to save water.
One of the first things you can do is to fix any leaks that you may have that are preventing you from utilizing the full capacity of your water. Once those are fixed, you can begin to make little changes to how you use water. For example, don’t leave the tap running when brushing your teeth or installing a low-flow showerhead to your shower.
These two simple tasks have been shown to save up to 160,000 liters of water based on your average family of four.
Smart Meters
Heating your home is one of the biggest consumptions of energy in the home. This is especially true in the winter when you are more likely to leave the heating on for longer amounts of time and at a higher heat. All of this expends extra energy and costs you more money. To combat this, you could install a smart meter.
Smart meters can be programmed so that they only operate at certain times of the day or night that is dictated by you. You can heat up your home just before you wake up or just as you are coming home from work. You can also make sure that it turns off after you have left the home.
These handy devices can be a game-changer when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint and decreasing your energy bills.
Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Sometimes the easiest way to start is to take a small thing and run with it. Energy-saving light bulbs are not new ideas but can be one of the most important ways to reduce your energy costs and wastage. More efficient lightbulbs can ensure that your energy goes to lighting your home rather than excess heat that doesn’t help you. They use a lot less electricity and last longer than standard lightbulbs meaning you need to replace them less often. A win-win situation
Insulation
Often the smartest way to reduce your energy loss and to make your home more eco-friendly is to ensure you lose as little energy as possible through your insulation. Good insulation holds in the heat and keeps the cold away. This means that you don’t need to burn extra energy to keep your house warm.
You can upgrade your insulation in lots of different areas and rooms of your home. These can include the walls, the roof, and even the windows and doors. Hardwood floors can be covered with fluffy rugs and provide a stylish option for your insulation. Again, this is expensive but pays off much quicker than solar panels. Plus, you get to stay warm and cozier for longer. Who can ask for more?
Make your Kitchen more eco-friendly
You can make your kitchen more eco-friendly by creating a smart kitchen. You lose a lot of heat through an open oven door during cooking for example. It requires significant amounts of energy to reheat your oven after it has lost lots of heat.
Another way you often see environmentally damaging behavior in the kitchen is through the overuse of coffee pods in the kitchen. All of the sleek aluminum plastic capsules usually end up in landfills across the country and remain unrecycled.
You can combat these wastes through simple changes such as only opening the oven for a short amount of time or by using a drip coffee maker. These may seem superficial but can truly make a difference to your carbon footprint.
Growing your own food
A fine example of a way to reduce your carbon footprint and make your home greener is to grow your own food as opposed to buying it from the supermarket. Transportation of food is one of the biggest creators of carbon emissions so any way you can reduce your need for it will definitely help.
Living in a big city can mean that it is almost impossible to buy fruit and vegetables that are fresh and not packed in plastic. If you grow your own, you can eliminate all of the chemicals used by mass producers and it will be healthier for you and your family.
The good thing is that you don’t need to have a huge plot of land to start growing your food. There are loads of micro-greens that you can grow in pots that survive inside your apartment or flat. Additionally, you can even grow herbs in small pots and containers in your kitchen area.
The options for growing your own food are limitless.
Eco-Friendly Homes
The future is green and the sooner you can make your home eco-friendlier, the quicker you can begin saving money. By looking after the green of the planet, you can look after the green in your wallet.