Sustainability has become a hot topic over the past several years. People are now experiencing more severe weather events more frequently, so it’s obvious the climate is changing. That’s why 67% of consumers are now aware of environmental responsibility.
The question is, what impact can you make?
The good news is that a sustainable home is in your grasp if you put in a bit of work. Read the guide below to learn how to improve your residential property to create a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Use Smart Thermostats
Do you have periods of the day when nobody is home? If this happens on a schedule, there’s no reason to keep your home’s HVAC system at full power during those times. All that does is waste energy.
You can automatically adjust your thermostat by using a smart device. You can program your smart thermostat to change your home’s temperature on a schedule. Doing this will ensure you don’t waste more power than necessary heating and cooling your home when nobody is there.
Invest in Smart Lights
Smart lighting is a must to reduce your home’s energy usage. Traditional light bulbs use a lot of power to run. If you have a lot of lights in your home, that can start adding up.
New smart lights have a much lower power footprint. They may cost more money upfront, but they last longer and will save money over time. On top of that, you can program them to use different colors and create unique lighting effects in your home.
Upgrade to Energy Star Appliances
Modern appliances are much better at handling energy than they used to be. There weren’t standards in the past that offered appliance manufacturers a way to handle power efficiently. That’s not the case today.
There is an Energy Star certification available that companies can apply for that proves they use the best energy management methods. Whenever you upgrade an appliance, be sure to buy something with this certification. Doing this means your new appliance won’t waste energy when running.
Seal Your Home
You may not have many energy leaks if you have a newer home. But since most homes are older, the chances are good that you may have some issues to address.
Look for local services that will insulate your home against the elements. This means looking for pest control to get rid of pests that damage your home and construction companies to patch up your home’s siding, insulation, and roof.
Use Solar
Solar may not be in the cards for everyone, but you should consider it if you have the extra money. Solar energy has come down in price and is at an all-time low. On top of that, many government incentives will bring the price down even more.
Check your local installers and get solar installation prices. You may be able to make your investment back in under 10 years, which means solar is an attractive option to save money and help the environment.
Create a More Sustainable Home Today
With the price of everything going up, electricity is no different. You’ll pay more for the same amount of power and have tighter bills every month.
But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about that. You can work to create a sustainable home that uses less energy. Remember the tips above to make changes that improve the efficiency of your home.
Are you interested in learning more homeownership tips? Check out the blog to learn how to make other great changes to your home.
