Five Eco-Friendly Features to Add to Your Home

Homeowners wanting an eco-friendly home need not build one from the ground up. There are many environmentally conscious features homeowners can add to existing homes. Even very old homes can be made eco-friendly. Indeed, the older the home, the greater the benefits from relatively simple upgrades. From replacing aging appliances to building custom solar carports, the options are plentiful. Here are five of the best and easiest eco-friendly features you can add to your existing home.

1. Renewable Energy

Besides gaining peace of mind that you’re doing your part to help the environment, switching to renewable energy sources also eliminates many monthly utility bills. Solar panels coupled with whole house power banks can remove a home’s reliance on the electric grid. Home solar panels can generate so much power the homeowner can even sell it back to the utility provider. Another option are biomass boilers, which burn organic material and convert it into fuel. When coupled with a heat pump, a biomass boiler can replace the need for gas to heat a home in the winter.

2. Insulation

The walls of homes built before 1965, when building codes changed to mandate insulation, might contain little or no insulation at all. Those building codes have been updated several times since then, and homes built before 1990 probably have lower R-Values than the current minimum requirement. Homeowners should consider getting an energy audit of their home to determine their current wall and attic insulation R-Levels. Raising those R-Levels can dramatically lower a home’s energy requirements.

3. Water Conservation

There are many options for lowering a home’s water usage. Replacing old washing machines with more efficient models and adding low-flow water faucets and toilets can drastically reduce water usage. And water collection systems allow homeowners to store rainwater for such uses as watering gardens or washing cars. Even a step as simple as turning off the water while brushing teeth can save hundreds of gallons of water every year.

4. Smart Technology

Smart thermostats automatically raise or lower a home’s temperature depending on the day and time. Similarly, smart lighting will switch off lights and power down electronics when the owner is away. Energy Star appliances are a smart choice as well. They operate far more efficiently than older appliances. When combined, all these smart technologies can lower a home’s energy needs greatly.

5. Natural Lighting and Ventilation

Even more beneficial than smart lighting is natural lighting. A well-placed skylight can brighten a living room or kitchen without flipping a switch. And they can be oriented to avoid the heating effects of the midday sun. And natural ventilation takes advantage of the surrounding atmosphere to heat or cool the home. Earthships use natural ventilation systems to draw cool air into the home day and night.

Renovating a home to include eco-friendly features is not only good for the environment but also for the pocketbook. And with the plethora of options available to choose from, there’s no reason for a homeowner to settle for the same old construction features.