The environment around us is constantly changing. So more than ever, we need to be aware of the environment and what we can do to protect it. When it comes to our homes, there are many benefits to being ‘green’ and having a more environmentally friendly home. There are lots of things that you can do to change your home. They can be quite simple too. So instead of having a home that guzzles power and money, it can become more sustainable. It does help to instill the eco-friendly values with your children too. So they will be more aware of things that they can do to be green, much more than we ever did as children.
Up front, some of the costs can be quite high to make some of these changes. But in the long term, the benefits outweigh the initial cost. So here are some things you can do, to create a more sustainable home.
Use More Sustainable Materials
If you are building a home from scratch, or just changing things in the home, you want to use sustainable materials. Doing so will reduce the costs and impact of the construction on the environment. You can replace or rebuild lots of different areas of your homes with sustainable materials. From flooring to roofing and to insulation. Try to use materials like recycled glass or plastic or natural things like bamboo or cork. So something like sustainable cork flooring would be a sensible choice to change in the home.
Use Solar Panels
If you are building a sustainable home from scratch, then great. Solar panels can be easily added into the design. If you are changing the home that you have, then solar panels can be quite easily added to the home. Having them means that you will have a natural and renewable way to heat and light your home. It will depend on where you live, as to the amount of money that you will save. If you are in a place that doesn’t get too much sun, then you might want to look into alternative methods. The majority of places will be fine, though. It is a good idea to check with government schemes, to see if there is a grant available to help with the installation. There are quite a few of those available too.
Change Your Light Bulbs
There are a large variety of light bulbs that are good for the home. LED light bulbs are some of the best to try. They use less energy, but don’t compromise on the power that they give off. The cost up front might be a little more than regular light bulbs. They do last a long time, though and will save money on bills. Imagine if you got the power from your solar panels too. You would be making significant savings.
Trees and Landscaping
A lot of our household bills go to heating and cooling our home. So another way to make your home more economical is to think about the landscaping. It can be a good idea to plant trees on the southern and west sides of the house. It will give shade to keep things cooler in summer. In winter, the leaves will fall and then will allow sunlight in. So it can be an inexpensive win.