We recently posted part 1 in our “Tips for a Greener Home” blog series and discussed a few ways that you can green up your home and save on energy consumption. The trend of “going green” has swept the nation and many people are consciously coming up with ways they can reduce their negative impact on the environment.
Here are some additional tips readers can use to make their homes greener:
· Think about a prefabricated home. If you’re in the process of (or thinking about) building a home, you may want to explore the possibilities of having a prefabricated home built for you. These aren’t the “mobile homes” of yesteryear. New green companies are producing and delivering maximum efficiency, modern homes that people love. By building in the factory, less waste is also created. This is obviously a big step, but one worth exploring if you want the ultimate green home.
· Add plants to your home. Living walls and roof gardens, while around for many, many years, are making a comeback with the green wave. These plant coverings fight pollution by absorbing both noise and carbon dioxide alike. They can also add an additional layer of insulation to your home. This may be the most literal tip for “greening” your home, but it can be one of great benefit and provide added visual appeal in your home as well!
· Rely on natural light. While we discussed the impact the installation of CFL light bulbs can have on your overall energy consumption, nothing can beat turning off your lights completely and using natural light whenever possible. Make sure windows aren’t blocked so as much outside light can enter your home. If you’re in a position to install new windows (or are building a new home), place the windows strategically so you’ll maximize the amount of sunlight getting into the home.
· Use power strips for your electronics and appliances. Plugging multiple electronics or small appliances (chargers, TVs, computers, coffee makers, etc.) and turning the strip off when things are not in use may seem like a small change, but it can be a great habit to get into. The collective savings you’ll get from doing a hard shutoff of these devices can be big—in some cases saving you more than 10% on your annual electric bill. Training the whole family to shut off the strips is a great idea and can really reduce unnecessary energy consumption in your home.
We’ll be adding one last post to this blog series on greening up your home shortly. Don’t miss it!
