Make your Home More Energy Efficient

People everywhere are more aware than ever of the damage that misuse of resources and creation of pollutants does to the environment. The great thing about “green” homes is that they not only make things easier on the natural environment, they also save you money in running your home. There are many things you can do yourself to make your home more eco friendly, and most of them are quite inexpensive. Some may earn you tax credits, even. So there’s no reason not to try to make your home more environmentally friendly.

Did you know that your windows can contribute to how eco friendly your house is? If you have drafty windows your heating or air conditioning system will have to work much harder keeping the inside of your house at the correct temperature. The harder your systems have to work, the higher your utility bills will be. Insulated well-fitted windows can make a huge difference in your utility bills. And the less electricity you use, the less coal has to be burned to create that electricity. In some instances you can get tax credits for outfitting your house with energy efficient windows, a particularly welcome bonus.

Appliances sometimes are guilty of not operating efficiently, and they could be costing you money. Energy inefficient refrigerators will make your electric bill go up because it’s an appliance that is always “on.” With frequently used appliances like your stove or dishwasher, energy efficiency is a very desirable feature, and something you should definitely look for next time you have to replace one. It might cost more up front, but it will more than make up for it in lower utility bills.

Flooring choices can be more eco friendly, though most people don’t consider floors to be a way to help the environment. If you’ve been considering hardwood floors, think about using bamboo instead. They are beautiful – like light hardwood – and they’re easily renewed because bamboo grows so fast and abundantly. You can even maintain them with plain old soap and water, which is a much more earth friendly prospect than special chemical floor cleaners.

Everyone’s heard about solar panels, and most people think they’re a great idea, but are too expensive. You can install solar panels in your home yourself and do it for a fraction of the cost of contracting it out. Solar panels will bring electricity right into your home, and get this: if you make more electricity than you use, you can actually sell your excess electricity back to the power company. Plus there are tax credits for the installation of solar panels. You can even build your own solar panels.

One of the most effective things people can do to make their home more environmentally friendly is to pick the proverbial low hanging fruit: every time an incandescent light bulb burns out, replace it with a compact fluorescent bulb. Use water-saving showerheads. Recycle materials that can be recycled, including aluminum cans, paper, cardboard, and plastic milk and soda bottles. Enough of the little steps can make an enormous difference, particularly if everybody starts doing them.