Our environment is constantly changing. Environmental awareness and proactive measures are critical. These factors become even more important when you realize how much money you save by building a green home. The methods available for changing your home from an emission-producing powerhouse into more of a greenhouse are straightforward and workable concepts. Here are just a few ideas to save energy and create a green space for you and your family.
Build with Sustainable Building Materials: Environmentally and eco-friendly building materials should always be at the top of the list for building a green home. Cabinets, counters, flooring, insulation and roofing materials all come in environmentally friendly options. Products made from natural, renewable materials include reclaimed lumber, recycled glass, recycled plastic and natural products like cork, linoleum, and bamboo.
Purchase and Install Solar Panels: Solar energy is one of the cleanest and renewable sources of energy. Solar power is a rapidly growing technology for those who want to utilize the natural energy all around us from the sun. Solar panels may be expensive upfront, but the long-term savings are a striking example of the benefits of going green. The location of your home and the angle of your constructed solar panels determines how much power you can collect. The government also offers grants, incentives and tax breaks as huge bonuses to people that choose to use solar power in their home.
Purchase and Install Energy Star Windows: ENERGY STAR windows are relatively new players in the window market. They are much more energy efficient than standard windows. The ratings for these windows determine how good at conserving energy they are. Keep in mind that the lower the rating is, the more energy efficient your windows are. The cost savings are enough to cover the additional upfront cost per window.
Purchase and Install a Tankless Water Heater: Water heaters eliminate the need to wait for the water to heat. Tankless water heaters heat what you use as it passes through the electric coil. This solution offers two benefits: 1) it eliminates the excess energy costs associated with heating water the traditional way 2) it removes the need for extra space for a conventional water heater.
Purchase and Install a Rainwater Harvesting System: There are many advantages (both personal and environmental) to owning a rainwater harvesting system. These systems reduce your home's utility costs. They're free from chemicals found in groundwater, they serve both drinking and non-drinking purposes, and they minimize the demand on surrounding groundwater and waterways. Like solar panels and energy star windows, this solution has a significantly higher upfront cost but ends up paying for itself through savings.
