Get On Board: Building A More Environmentally-Friendly Home

You’ve spent quite a bit of time and money on your home since moving in, and now you feel it’s about time you got on the bandwagon and started taking steps towards helping out the environment. Today we are going to speak to you about a few ways you can go about reducing your home’s energy consumption.

Using Less Electricity

Electricity is one of the most expensive bills in any household. We tend to forget just how many lights we have on or electronics we have plugged in – some on a continual basis. If you’re on the lookout for a few ways to reduce the amount of electricity your family uses, then you may want to consider installing skylights for additional lighting throughout the day or turning towards solar energy. Solar energy may be a bit pricey to install, but over the long term, it definitely pays for itself by lowering expenses.

Have you ever considered swapping out your current light bulbs for ones that are more energy efficient? Not only do CFL bulbs last as much as 6 times as long as incandescent bulbs, but they also use about 75% less energy. Motion sensor lighting may also be something to think about. This way, you’ll only use light as you need it. There are many solutions that come with timers so you can set exact times you’d like certain bulbs to be on or off.

Renovating the Eco-Friendly Way

When making changes or updates to your current residence, consider locating reclaimed materials, such as wood or metal instead of purchasing brand-new. These options typically look just as nice and mean less waste. If planning to remove physical aspects of your home, such as walls or cabinets, see if you can’t find ways to use the left-over materials elsewhere. If not, donate them so underprivileged families may get the same use out of them.

ENERGY STAR Solutions

Find yourself looking for a new television, fridge or oven? Instead of shopping solely for price, take a little extra time to locate an option that is going to not only look fantastic in your living space, but will also save energy. ENERGY STAR approved products are extremely durable and are built with a reduced amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Doesn’t it feel great knowing you’re reducing your carbon footprint, simply by upgrading to a new product you already needed?

The Simple Things: Every Little Bit Counts

If you haven’t already guessed, every little step you take towards saving energy is beneficial. This means, unplugging those cell phone chargers when they aren’t in use, powering off your laptop at the end of each work day and shutting off bedroom lights, even if you are only going to be gone a few moments. It’s amazing how the simplest life changes can save you so much money. Swapping out a single bulb in your home can save you as much as $6 a year. Have 100 bulbs in your home? That would add up to a whopping $600 in a single year!

Today’s guest post is authored by Karen Moore. She is a regular blogger who gives interesting home improvement and DIY tips on her blog. She recommends the use of acoustic insulation.

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