The well-being of our planet is on the top of a lot of young homeowners' minds. Living our lives more sustainably is becoming increasingly important with each passing day, and many folks want to know how they can do so in the home. There are several projects and investments that will not only make your home a more eco-conscious oasis but will also help build equity in your home. These improvements range in both price and difficulty. Today we’ll go through some of the top projects you can do today to make your house more sustainable that range in skill level and budgets. It’s time for your house to get green!
Let's start with some easy and affordable projects to make your home more efficient and save you some money in the long run. The first task on your list should be installing water-efficient showerheads. “If every home in the US replaced existing showerheads with WaterSense labeled models, we could save more than 260 billion gallons of water and nearly $5.4 billion in water and energy costs across the country annually!” (LeafScore) Most of these showerheads will use 75% less water than a standard showerhead. It will also save you some money! Water-efficient models will cut down your water bill significantly. Click here for a fantastic Rain Shower Head. If you want to light up your patio or backyard space without wasting electricity, invest in solar-powered outdoor lights instead. Most outdoor solar lights require slim to no set up and you’ll never have to worry about changing out batteries or plugging them in. Let the sun do the work!
If you’re looking to make more drastic improvements to your home that will help the environment and build equity in your property, we have plenty of suggestions on where to start. If you’re hoping to upgrade your flooring, try swapping out for cork, bamboo, or linoleum. Out of these options, cork is the most renewable resource to choose from, and has a lifespan of 10-30 years, depending on the quality and finish. “Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree commonly found in the forests of the Mediterranean. The trees are not cut down to harvest the bark, which will grow back every three years, making it an ideal renewable source.” (Fresh Home) If you’re looking to significantly reduce energy costs in your home, it may be time to upgrade to Energy Star Appliances. These can range from refrigerators to washer/dryer, and heating systems. This is one of the top ways you can invest in your property and the planet. Much like the showerhead, swapping to a low-flow toilet will significantly help lower the amount of water your system is using and bring your bill down. Since solar power has already been mentioned, it should be noted that there are several advantages that come from installing solar panels on the roof of your home. While the upfront cost can be daunting for solar installation, they can save you money for years to come. You can make electricity bills a thing of the past. Tesla has even come out with a solar roof, which makes the unattractiveness of panels a non-issue. That last suggestion we’ll make today, as we have quite a list of projects lined up, is to reinsulate your home using eco-friendly insulation or foam. If you’re local, reach out to Environmental Foam of Vermont to get the work scheduled.
If this blog has made you curious about your home's overall energy consumption, power output, and savings, use the Energy Efficiency Calculator to find out how much you’re spending.
Send in photos of how you’ve made your home into an efficient and sustainable paradise and we will share them on our social media page and give you a shout-out! If you’re looking to sell your eco-conscious property while the market is hot, reach out to Elise@polliproperties.com.