Every year new home trends emerge. One notion that stays consistent year to year is having an eco-friendly home. A sustainable home benefits both the environment and your budget in the long term. Saving money with energy-efficient appliances and systems helps reduce emissions and your electric bill.
If you’re a noob at making earth-friendly updates in your home, don’t worry, we are here to help! Keep reading for five ideas to make sustainable updates in your home. These tips are simple, cost-effective, and will deliver lasting results.
1 Seal Windows and Doors
If you’ve ever felt a draft in the winter months or your cool air is not staying inside your home during the summer months, it might be time to seal your windows and doorways. You can do this by adding a glaze to your windows, weather stripping, or caulking any gaps in windows or doors. For an even quicker fix, you can try a door snake to help prevent any air from escaping or coming in. For additional information, check out this article on air sealing your home.
2 Upgrade to Energy Efficient Windows
For a more permanent solution, replacing your current windows with more energy-efficient ones is a great option. These windows are designed to help hot or cool air from leaving your home. For the best results, change all windows in your home to double-pane energy-efficient windows. Adding double-pane windows will cost more upfront, but the long-term results are well worth it. Energy-efficient windows can save you up to 43% on your monthly utility costs, as well as increase your home’s value.
3 Make Appliance Changes
A popular and very effective update is changing your appliances to newer energy-efficient models. These appliances save you money by using less energy but work just as effectively. You want to look for items that are Energy Star certified. Something to consider when investing in new appliances is a home warranty policy. A home warranty is a contract that covers the repair or replacement of major appliances. A home warranty can be worth it, especially with new appliances since they tend to cost more. By lowering your monthly utility bill and repair costs, both energy-efficient appliances and a home warranty will save you money in the long run.
4 Schedule a Home Inspection
A great way to improve energy efficiency in your home is to make sure everything works properly. This starts with a maintenance inspection. This type of inspection makes sure all critical components of your home are performing correctly and will help advise of any areas that need repair. An inspection will cover everything from electrical to foundation concerns and can give you peace of mind about your home.
5 Reduce Waste
If you don’t have a recycling plan already in place, now is a great time to start. I am not just talking about separating into bins. Make 2022 the year you focus on helping the environment and your home. A great way to start, if possible, is by adding a compost bin. You can also hire compost companies to pick up from your home. Composting can create organic soil and reduce dangerous chemicals created by landfills. Remember to always use reusable grocery and storage bags, straws, and replace single-use items in your home where possible. A great first step is updating items in your kitchen, like coffee filters and plastic containers.
Helping the environment starts at home. Remember, it doesn’t always have to be all or nothing, but small changes towards better energy practices make a big difference. When you see the results of both saving money on your utility bills and reducing emissions, it’s well worth it. Also, if you are making energy-efficient updates in your home, be sure to look into tax deductions you can make with these updates.
Lastly, make sure you are making updates to your home that are timely with the seasons. This is especially important in the winter months, where heavy snow and cold weather can cause substantial damage. Being prepared both economically and environmentally will keep your home running smoothly!
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