Living a greener lifestyle is an aspiration of families across the globe, but many of the most popularized methods to do so are too expensive or are intimidating to install. But there are still some options which are affordable. If you’re contemplating making your home energy-efficient, have you considered solar panels? They are a practical solution, offering a myriad of benefits. Not only do you significantly lessen your dependence on the grid, but you also contribute to the fight against climate change. You may want to take a look at https://www.instagroup-homes.co.uk/solar-power/installing-solar-energy/, where you can learn more about the process and benefits of installing solar energy. You may also purchase reusable bottles for your family so you won’t have to buy bottled water anymore.
Not everyone is capable of installing solar panels, and even fewer people have the income to be able to afford them. But there are other more inexpensive, and simple ways that you can protect your family and the world. Use these tips to do your part and live a greener lifestyle without any need for residential construction.
Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
There are several benefits of washing your clothes in cold water. Firstly, up to 90% of the energy a washing machine consumes is used to heat the water used to clean your clothes. By washing your clothes with cold water you can limit your carbon dioxide emissions and actually save money on energy. Cold water is also much gentler on clothes than warm water is. Warm water more quickly deteriorates your clothing and can cause your clothes’ colors to bleed. The only time warm water is actually necessary for washing clothes is when you’re dealing with a stubborn stain such as an oil stain.
Swap Regular Light Bulbs for LED Bulbs
LED light bulbs are more efficient than other styles of a lightbulb and can be cheaper in the long run. This means that you’ll save money on electricity while making your home more environmentally friendly in the process. LED lightbulbs also give off less heat than many alternatives making them safer for people to handle. They are more expensive to purchase up-front, but given how much more efficient they are it is usually a worthwhile expense. While LED bulbs contribute to long-term cost savings and environmental friendliness, ensuring an efficient home heating installation in western new york is equally crucial.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats can help cut a home’s energy costs, especially in the colder seasons. When it’s cold outside it can be really easy to run the heater longer than is actually necessary to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. A smart meter can help cut energy costs by automatically turning off the heater when it can and turning the heater back on when it is necessary. This will also make your home more environmentally friendly by reducing your carbon footprint. Smart meters can be programmed to only activate at certain times of day, so you can even have the air conditioning, which you have more info here, in your home automatically turn off when you’re at work and turn on an hour before you return so it is comfortable when you arrive. You can also evaluate your life emissions with CarbonClick using a personal carbon estimator.
Having a well-insulated home can reduce the amount of heat you lose through the walls of your house and in turn reduce the amount of energy you spend making your home comfortable. This will do well to save you money and reduce your carbon footprint. To further enhance your energy efficiency efforts, consider a thermal imaging heat loss survey to identify and address any areas where heat may be escaping, allowing for more effective insulation and energy conservation measures.
If there are signs of inadequate attic insulation, read here.
Purchase Energy-Efficient Appliances
Appliances can get expensive quickly, but if you’re already looking to upgrade your home then energy-efficient appliances, such as those online appliances, should be high on your list of priorities. Nearly every appliance in your home, from your dishwasher to your air conditioner can be replaced with a more environmentally friendly version for less c02. If you can’t afford new appliances then try to use them in a more efficient manner. For instance, if you check the food in your oven by opening the oven door, then you are likely losing a good deal of heat in the process. This means you’ll also be spending more energy reheating the oven every time you check on the food. For your ac units, have them regularly serviced by an air conditioning repair technician to improve their efficiency. Annual air conditioning repair and tune-ups done by an ac repair contractor can also help avoid unexpected ac breakdowns especially during the summer months. Be mindful about how you use appliances, and try to be as green as possible.
Since heat pumps run pretty much all year long to both heat and cool your home, the non-stop wear and tear will eventually lead to problems and you will need to call heat pump repair services.
Pick Water-Based Paints
Most paints that are currently used in home decor are oil-based paints, which are not as environmentally friendly as their water-based counterparts. Water-based paints that have natural pigments are not only nicer to the environment, but they can also be more gentle on people. Oil-based paints can more easily irritate peoples’ skin and eyes, making your home feel less welcoming to those who are more sensitive to irritation.
Think Green When Cleaning
Many of the chemicals we use to clean our homes end up in our water and must be filtered out before that water can be reused. As you can imagine, this is a huge waste of time, money, and energy. These chemicals can also be harsh on our skin or even get hung up in our air. By using greener alternatives to chemicals such as bleach, we can avoid irritation at home and also reduce the number of chemicals in our water sources. You can even make many home cleaning solutions yourself with simple ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. In general, you should strive to only use harsh chemicals such as bleach when you absolutely have to. Another alternative to cleaning chemicals you can use in many situations is a steam cleaner. This method requires a little bit of up-front payment but requires only water to clean certain messes after that.
*Disclaimer: TMC was not paid for this post. This is a guest post by Naomi Shaw. Opinions are 100% her own.
