The resistance against climate change and other environmental issues has never been more crucial than before. Each year, we experience rising global temperatures, biodiversity loss, and extreme pollution, among other problems caused by man's harmful practices.
Embracing sustainable living is not just optional anymore but a necessity to mitigate such dangers and safeguard the world for current and future generations.
The best place to start practicing sustainable living is always at home. To help you become a more responsible homeowner, we've crafted a list you can use to create an eco-friendly household.
The following are some of the best investments for a sustainable home.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Units like refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners consume a significant portion of your energy. That's why, in the last decade, manufacturers have introduced appliances that embrace energy efficiency to help homeowners consume less power.
Now, we're accustomed to brands showcasing their version of the inverter technology, promising to protect the environment by consuming less electricity than units from before. They're also increasingly introducing products with the ENERGY STAR® label, indicating their energy efficiency.
Meanwhile, smart appliances, which are becoming more widely available for homeowners, offer to conserve energy in many ways.
For one, they operate according to usage patterns, meaning they can detect when to minimize or maximize their output. They also feature remote control capabilities that allow you to access the unit through your smartphone. That means you can schedule them to operate during off-peak hours or shut them off remotely if you accidentally left them on, preventing unnecessary energy use.
Opting for the abovementioned appliances is an excellent idea for a more sustainable home. A big plus of investing in them is when you conserve energy, you also lower your electric bills. That means you're not just protecting the environment but saving more money.
Proper Insulation
Proper insulation regulates your home's temperature and reduces the need for excessive heating and cooling. Doing so lowers your energy consumption while maintaining a comfortable room temperature. Some of the critical areas you must insulate are your attics, walls, and crawl spaces. Sealing gaps around doors, windows, and outlets prevents drafts and achieves the same effects.
Additionally, insulating your home with eco-friendly materials is an excellent way to boost your home's sustainability further. These include recycled cellulose, sheep's wool, and polyester. Investing in them minimizes your carbon footprint by using renewable or reused materials, lowering waste generation, and contributing to a more sustainable environment.
Recycled Building Materials
Houses are traditionally built on materials sourced from logging, mining, and manufacturing processes that can have a significant environmental impact. These include deforestation, excessive energy and natural resources consumption, and waste generation. Using recycled or reclaimed materials when you renovate can help reduce your carbon footprint while achieving your desired aesthetic.
For instance, you can use reclaimed wood when remodeling your flooring, countertops, or cabinets. Doing so reduces the need for new lumber since the materials used come from old structures or scraps from products like wood furniture, preventing further deforestation. Opting for them also decreases waste significantly, which contributes to landfill reductions.
Moreover, reclaimed wood is often more durable than new lumber. It also provides a unique, rustic feel that adds personality to your home. Aside from that, you can incorporate reused metal, glass, brick, and stone for a more sustainable home.
The best part is that many providers are sustainably reusing these materials to help produce more eco-friendly homes.
Renewable Energy Sources
Opting for renewable energy is a powerful way to reduce your home's dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, of course, are used to produce heat and electricity to power our homes, which for years have been releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide that cause global warming.
Going for renewable sources will drastically change your home's energy consumption. Solar panels are the best examples of these sources, generating electricity by collecting energy from the sun. Wind turbines are also excellent options, mainly if your property receives sufficient wind to generate enough power.
Meanwhile, geothermal systems use the earth's stable underground temperatures for heating and cooling. They offer a highly efficient alternative to traditional systems that consume too much energy.
Investing in these solutions provides various benefits, like protecting the environment, reducing energy bills, and increasing your property's value.
Smart Lighting Choices
LED bulbs are excellent light sources because they last longer and they can reduce energy consumption significantly. Generally, they can convert more electricity into light rather than heat. That means they won't affect your home's temperature compared to incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, preventing the need for excessive cooling.
Many LED bulbs are also designed to work well with dimmer switches, allowing you to adjust the brightness based on your needs and further reduce your energy consumption.
Water Conservation
Water is one of the most precious resources on our planet. And sadly, it's one of the most wasted among them. Conserving water is vital for creating a sustainable home. You can implement many water-saving measures to reduce consumption while maintaining hygiene and comfort.
One of the many solutions homeowners use is investing in low-flow fixtures like faucets and showerheads. These items are carefully engineered to reduce the overall flow of the water while maintaining excellent pressure. You can lower consumption by up to 50 percent compared to standard models through these items.
Another way to conserve water significantly is by repurposing them. For instance, greywater systems reuse clean wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry areas for non-potable uses like landscape irrigation. This reduces the need for new water output to irrigate gardens.
Meanwhile, rain barrels can capture runoff from rooftops and store them for outdoor use, providing a steady water supply for gardening or cleaning your backyard. Investing in these solutions is an excellent way to consume water sparingly.
Smart Temperature Controls
Smart thermostats are among the many innovations that create eco-friendly homes. These devices are designed to make heating and cooling more efficient by learning your temperature preferences and daily routines, significantly reducing unnecessary energy consumption. That means they can automatically adjust the temperature if you prefer warm or cool at certain hours.
These devices use sensors and adaptive learning to detect temperature, humidity, and motion. They learn from your household's daily patterns and preferences by gathering recurring data.
Smart thermostats are connected to your home WiFi network, allowing you to control their features remotely through an app. This lets you monitor and change your temperature anywhere. With this feature, you can be more responsible with your energy usage, ultimately leading to a more sustainable living.
Embrace Sustainability and Protect Our Planet
As we continue our battle against climate change and other environmental struggles, many solutions are becoming available to help us combat the challenges that come with the fight. Investing in the tools and technologies above offers an excellent first step towards an eco-friendly home and a sustainable planet.
