6 Changes You Can Make in Your Home to Live More Sustainably
Do you know the best part about having a home of your own? Whatever you choose to do with it is up to you! Whether it is about which painting goes where or the type of appliance that you invest in, everything is on you. Since you are investing, why not focus on environmentally friendly investments and ideas that also reduce your carbon footprint on the planet?
As a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, where property has increased by 120% due to high demand, people are making impactful changes towards sustainable living and eco-friendly practices.
As a responsible citizen of this community, you must feel responsible for creating a house that is prone to less wastage and is more sustainable not only for the residents but also for the Charlotte community as a whole.
Let’s talk about the most crucial adjustments you can do to make it work.
- Upgrade Your Windows
The windows are the most externally exposed fittings of your home. From air pollution, smog, rain, vehicle emissions, and other kinds of natural contaminants to indoor wear-and-tear, they go through a lot. And being in a city ranked as the 41st most polluted American city for ozone pollution, you need to upgrade your windows to maintain a pollution-free and clean indoor.
Windows with high-end insulation not only act as a barrier against noise and dust but also help you save a significant figure on your bills.
Home renovation experts suggest that you need to upgrade your windows after 10-15 years. So, if you haven’t done that yet, look for a Charlotte window replacement company that offers you a range of options to update your windows with energy-efficient alternatives that last a long time.
- Replace the Lighting
LED lights are slowly taking over the supreme and long-lasting reign of fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs are known for their sharp and bright light in different tones to match the overall aesthetic of your room.
LED lights are almost 3 times more long-lasting than your old lighting solutions and have an average life of 25,000 to 50,000 hours. With changes that are less frequent, you will be susceptible to less waste and low maintenance costs.
Overall, replacing your traditional lights with LED-based alternatives can help save up to 75% on your electricity bills. You can also introduce a solar energy generation system that takes sunlight to produce electricity for your property. Solar panels have gained popularity in the last decade or so because of their ability to make electricity almost free for users with a one-time investment.
- Save Water in the House
Water wastage is one of the most concerning factors that are being discussed by environmental activists from around the world. Since you cannot combat global concerns about water scarcity in Africa, try making some changes in your house.
Start off by making changes in the taps and shower heads at your residence. Modern options not only come with pleasant aesthetics but can also save a considerable amount of water — and that too without reducing water pressure.
During the days when rain showers are expected, consider collecting the rainwater. This water can be stored for purposes such as gardening, washing the front porch and other outdoor uses.
Usually, people hire the services of a plumber when pipes and drains are subjected to maintenance. But what if you introduce a practice of calling a plumber on a quarterly basis, regardless of the concern to check and examine the plumbing system of your residence. Any repairs or services can be done on a timely basis, leading to less wastage of water and money (due to fewer bills).
- Use Energy Efficient Appliances
Energy Star labels come on a variety of appliances like fridges, dishwashers, washing machines, etc. These appliances are known to use less water and energy as compared to the models our moms and grandmas were used to.
Despite the benefit, many people are known to skip purchasing a start-labelled appliance and opt for something traditional. Reason? Cost saving. But is that really worth it?
For example, a new fridge will cost you around $1000 – $1500. But on the other hand, an Energy Star alternative for this fridge might cost around $2000. Sounds a bit out of range, right? Let’s look at the bigger picture. The fridge labeled as Energy Star can help you save anywhere from 15% – 20% on electricity bills. Moreover, they also last almost as long as non-labeled fridges but with an extra edge.
Energy-efficient appliances are created under strict conditions so they can meet the performance standards of your traditional alternatives while helping you reduce greenhouse gas emissions and natural resources.
- Consider Investing in Smart Home Technologies
Smart home devices are very practical and not only help you save money but also optimize your energy use in the residents. For example, we have smart thermostats that adjust the temperature and environment of your house according to your comfort level regardless of what’s happening outside. Unlike the older models where you would manually adjust the temperature but by then, a lot of energy is lost.
Similarly, you can also automate the lighting of your house through smart integration. You can control the light in your house regardless of your location, leading to better electricity management and understanding of tips to save money and resources.
Let’s just accept that we are way past the time when you had to drive halfway from a vacation just to turn off a couple of lights that were left on when you left.
- Other Changes
Besides the main investments, you can also make smaller changes like going to the grocery store with a reusable fabric bag, not using paper towels for cleaning, and avoiding disposable cutlery and crockery.
People with financial resources also invest in hybrid and electric cars that have very little or no carbon emissions. Consider recycling and donating to charity instead of discarding reusable clothing and utensils in garbage.
Our society is subjected to many environmental challenges that are making life in less facilitated nations difficult. However, with energy-efficient and sustainable practices, you can play your part in reducing your carbon footprint.
Make simple yet effective changes to use fewer resources around the house. It also helps you cut down on your energy bills, resulting in better financial savings.
These changes cannot happen all of a sudden; you can try to invest in one thing at a time and start small, depending on your budget.
