With global warming looming on our front steps, it isn’t surprising why more and more people are starting to go green. Of course, one of the best ways to start going green is within our selves, or in most cases, within our homes. These go green acts do not really have to be as drastic – because every little change that’s made plays a huge role in making your home friendlier to the environment. By making your home more energy efficient one, you aren’t only being friendly to the planet, you’re also doing your pocket a favor. Here are some few home improvement tips that you can do in order to make your Lafayette Colorado homes greener.
1)Check Your Insulation – Cooling and heating account for around half to three fourths of all the energy used in an average American home. Homes with inadequate insulation can cause hot air or cold air to leak. This means that more energy must be consumed in order to make it warmer or colder. Make sure that your home is properly insulated especially in weaker areas like attics and garages. Ask your contractor for the best insulation for your climate. Also, make sure that all holes, cracks and openings are closed and air sealed in order to prevent air from escaping. This includes the sealing off the doors, windows, gaskets and floorboards.
2)Check The Heating – During winter, heating takes the top spot when it comes to energy consumption. Make sure that your heating system in efficient, and is up to shape. Inefficient heating systems use up more energy in order to produce heat in comparison to top shape heating systems.
3)Improve Your Windows – If you’re planning to completely remodel your house, then why not replace your windows as well. Windows are a common source of heat loss during winter seasons. You can replace your windows with dual pane or triple pane windows. For countries that experience cold weather, UV coatings on windows should be kept at a minimum in order to allow the sun’s warmth to come in. This method allows passive heating and helps reduce energy consumption.
4)Save More Water – Most homeowners waste tons of water each year. You can replace your faucet fixtures with pressurized low flow fixtures. This can greatly reduce your water consumption. There are also toilets that come in dual flush modes – this allows you to use either the powerful flush mode or the gentle flush mode depending on your need. You may also consider installing a system that captures shower “gray water” and rain water for garden irrigation purposes.
5)Replace your old light bulbs with CFL or compact fluorescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps have longer life spans and consume less energy than the traditional incandescent light bulbs.
6)If you plan to purchase new appliances or replace your old ones, then purchase only appliances that consume less energy. Look for the Energy Star logo on consumer electronics and appliances.
7)A new paint job can instantly give a face lift to any room. Make sure that you use paints that do not contain or have low channels of volatile organic chemicals. The typical paint that most people used contains a mixture of different VOCs, which are not only harmful to the environment but detrimental to the health as well.
8)Check Your Flooring. You may be considering the thought of changing your flooring, but if you can still refinish or reuse the existing material, then the better. If you do have to change your flooring, you may want to opt for natural cork flooring. Natural cork floors are very durable and comfortable to walk on – and they boast non – toxic adhesiveness that makes them safe for you and the environment.
9)Use Solar Power. You might want to consider using solar heating, or if you’re up for the investment, you can install solar panels to generate the energy that you consume at home. Doing so will save you money and pay off in the long run.
10)Start small. If you can’t make major changes in your home just yet, then you can try making a few minor changes at home. Try to use as much organic and eco friendly items as you can – from eco friendly cleansers, bedding, old but reuphostered furniture and the like. These may be small steps in compared to other things that you can do, but they can save you some money and can contribute, in one way or another, to a cleaner and safer earth.
If you can perform the above mentioned ten eco friendly home enhancements, it can help the environment and your pocketbook. Littleton CO Real Estate owners and Longmont CO residents can also take advantage of these tips.
