Every year you spend thousands on energy and let hundreds fly out the door (or drafty window!) The office of energy efficiency estimates a waste of $400 per home yearly. Not to mention your increased impact on the environment.
If you’d like to do more to tamp down your carbon footprint and reap the rewards that follow, this guide is for you. Continue reading to learn about how you can create a more sustainable home.
Get Low With Your Flow and Save Water
Water-saving features are the cornerstone of a sustainable home. When low-flow features are installed, you automatically lower your home’s water consumption by about 30%. Your kitchen faucet, showerhead, and toilet bowl are all high-impact areas that will save water and money.
When choosing a low-flow water fixture, the EPA recommends that you look for the WaterSense logo. These are products whose standards meet or exceed water efficiency standards.
Remember, low flow doesn’t have to mean low pressure. For this, look for aerated fixtures which help replace the feeling of a high-pressured stream.
Optimize Energy Efficiency
While different types of homes have different energy efficiency solutions, some options can be implemented anywhere.
One example is energy-efficient lightbulbs, such as LED bulbs. They can be swapped out in any space, including apartments or historic buildings. These bulbs not only last longer, saving you money on replacement costs, they also use a fraction of the energy of an incandescent light.
Another way to improve your home’s energy efficiency is investing in a smart meter. It’s simple to install, extremely user-friendly and will pay for itself after significant energy cost savings. This is accomplished this allowing you to precisely control your heating and cooling systems to only turn on at certain set points, at specific times, or in chosen locations when you need it.
You will wonder why you haven’t transitioned to being a smart homeowner sooner.
Make Renewability Your Standard
When shopping for anything for your home, whether it’s kitchen gear, clothing, or furniture, only bring home items that last for a long time. In addition, limit your use of single-use items. There are natural renewable replacements for nearly everything, like beeswax paper instead of plastic wrap for veggies and leftovers.
For high-quality, long-lasting furnishings, check out thrift stores. There you will find items proven to stand the test of time. And be sure to take excellent care of everything you already own to extend its lifetime and reduce your carbon footprint.
This extends to the systems and fixtures of your house as well.
For example, did you know that mineral build-up such as calcium or limestone can cause your pipes to corrode over time? To remedy this, there are anti-scale systems that you can install at the point of entry or before your boiler. If you’re interested, click for more information.
A Sustainable Home is an Ecofriendly Home
Remember, this list is not exhaustive, and there are many other ways to reduce your environmental impact. But if you strive to incorporate the ecofriendly lifestyle tenants of reduce, reuse, and recycle into your life, you will be on the path towards a sustainable home.
If you enjoyed this read, be sure to explore more in our Home Improvement section.
