May
26
2016
8 Things Every Eco-Home Should Have
Transforming your home into a sustainable one? Here are 8 things you should have to make your home a green, energy efficient but comfortable place!
- Location
Reduce your carbon footprints by living closer to your workplace or shopping malls. This will help to reduce your dependence on cars as everything is within walking distance from your home.
- Renewable Energy
Renewable energy comes in many forms—solar, wind, water and geothermal. You can start small by buying wind-generated or other renewable power from you local utility—just sign up with your energy bill! Alternatively, you can also consider installing solar water heaters, which can help to reduce energy bills.
- Energy-Efficient Appliances
Installing energy and water-saving appliances not only helps you to save on the electric bill, but it also helps to conserve the environment. Next time when you’re out shopping for new appliances, make sure you check out the Energy Star labels!
- Sustainable Landscaping
If you’re interested in a little backyard landscaping, try rain gardens, ponds and birdbaths, as they are not only environmentally friendly but friendly to animals as well.
Green thumbs? Try growing native and drought-resistant plants, as they require less water maintenance. You can also consider organic gardening, which uses natural fertilizers and pest-control techniques instead of harsh chemicals, and is thus friendly to both the environment and people.
- Water Conservation
Consider installing low-flow plumbing fixtures to help you save on both water and money. Low-flow toilets only make use of 1.6 gallons of water every time you flush, while low-flow showerheads use 2.5 gallons per minute or less. Low-flow faucet aerators reduce water consumption to as low as a gallon per minute.
- Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Want to be more energy efficient? Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Installing one of these bulbs help to save $15 annually, so just multiply that by the number of light fixtures you have in your home and watch your savings add up! If you are without budget constraints, you can also consider using light emitting diodes, which can be more expensive but consumes very little energy.
- Air circulation
Good indoor air quality is an important aspect of having a healthy home. To purify your air, select cleaning agents without toxic chemicals, and paints and wood finishes that are natural and contain few or no volatile organic compounds. You can also consider using a whole-house, integrated air-filtration system with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. When installing tiles, use low-toxic adhesives and plastic-free grout. Ensure that the kitchen range hood vents outside.
- Plenty of Daylight
Consider installing south-facing windows as they provide natural daylight. To prevent overheating, you can also install window shadings.
