Make Your Home Sustainable with These 4 Easy Tips!

If you have adapted yourself to live green by taking the bus to work or have conditioned yourself to turn the faucet off quickly, you're definitely on the right track. But did you know that you can do a lot more for the environment by making your home sustainable?

If you’re willing to make your home sustainable, here are 4 tips to help you get started!

Change the Light Bulbs

According to an estimate by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), residential lighting consumption in the US in the year 2014 was about 14% of the total residential electricity consumption. As such, it is obvious that choosing the right lighting and using lights the right way is important to make your house sustainable.

Energy-saving light bulbs like LED (Light Emitting Diode) and CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs use up to 90% less electricity than incandescent bulbs, so if you have old-style bulbs fitted in your house, it's time to change them. Sure, LED and CFL bulbs are costlier than incandescent and halogen bulbs, but they will pay for themselves in the form of savings in the long run!

Note that CFL bulbs emit light in all directions while LED bulbs emit light in a single direction, so you'll have to put some thought into buying new bulbs. Also, refrain from installing CFL bulbs in enclosed and recessed areas as they are sensitive to extreme temperatures.

Further to this, consider installing dimmer switches to reduce light wattage and output. Other energy-saving features worth investing in are occupancy sensors and photo sensors. Occupancy sensors turn lights on when activity is detected in a room, and turn lights off after a period of inactivity. On the other hand, photo sensors turn lights on and off by detecting ambient light levels, making them great for use with outdoor lights.

Check Your Home’s Insulation

Insulating your home helps keep it warm in winters and cool in summers. But even if your house is insulated, it is possible that it loses and gains heat through the ceiling, floor, windows, and walls! As such, it is necessary to have the right type of insulation for your house, and also get regular energy audits done so that you know your home's insulation barrier is intact.

The appropriate type and level of insulation your house needs depends on the climatic conditions in your area, and subsequently on whether your house needs an insulation barrier to keep heat in or out or both. A home inspection by a professional will be beneficial, especially if you're shifting into a new house. However, you can do a lot to improve the efficiency of your home's insulation system by yourself.

Start by inspecting the areas around doors and windows for cracks. Sealing all drafts with silicone caulking or foam sealant will reduce heat loss and/or gain significantly. Also use weather stripping on windows to improve insulation.

Additionally, keep blinds down or curtains drawn during summers so that rooms do not heat up. Use heavy curtains during winters to keep heat in.

Harvest Renewable Energy

If you stay in a state like California that receives adequate sunshine, there’s no reason you shouldn’t get in touch with good San Bernardino solar panel companies for an estimate. Like LED bulbs, the upfront costs of installing solar panels will be high, but you’re sure to save a lot of money on electricity bills in the future!

You can also install small wind turbines on the roof to provide electricity. These range in size from 400 Watts to 20 kilowatts, so you can choose one depending on your energy consumption.

Another great way to harvest renewable energy is to buy bamboo furniture and products. Unlike other trees, bamboo grows very fast and is easy to harvest so you won’t have to worry about contributing to deforestation!

Grow Plants

If you have a garden or a backyard, grow some big trees to provide shade during summers. If you don't have space for large trees or don't have a garden, grow small plants or go for rooftop or indoor gardening. Plants not only keep the air around you clean, but play a significant part in reducing your home's carbon footprint too.

Consider growing vegetables, fruits, or herbs in small containers- growing your own food means you get to eat nutritious and fresh produce, and also reduced trips to the supermarket! If you want to grow ornamental plants, choose indigenous varieties so that they grow well without extra fertilizers and pesticides.

Go organic and make your own compost using kitchen scraps. Also consider using natural pest control options to deal with weeds and insects.

Conclusion

Making your home sustainable not only improves the quality of your life, it also reduces negative impact on the environment. With the tips given here, you know that you can easily make your home a better place to live in. So get started right away!

(Image Credit: Pinterest)