Five Tips For Making Your Home Eco-Friendly On A Budget
It’s important for many families these days to find the most energy-efficient, eco-friendly ways to run the household in order to stay green. For some, this means expensive home repairs or upgrades that can be time-consuming, but there are many ways you can make your home environmentally sound that don’t require a lot of time or money.
It’s a good idea to take a good look around your home before you start any projects to see what can be repurposed or changed out completely. This can include everything from flooring to light bulbs, so be thorough and make a list of what you’ll need. You might find that you can change several things and stay within your budget.
Here are some of the best tips on how to make your dwelling green without shelling out a lot of greenbacks.
Check those bulbs
For the rooms that use the most electricity, consider changing all the bulbs to energy-efficient lighting such as halogen incandescents. These bulbs can last several times longer than regular light bulbs and can save you around $75 per year in energy costs. You can save the Earth over 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, too.
Go bamboo
If you’re looking to replace flooring, go with bamboo. This fast-growing plant is easily replenished, making it a much better alternative for wood flooring than timber. You can use it in other places around the house, such as a butcher’s block or island topper for the kitchen.
Open the curtains
In winter, it’s a good idea to open those curtains on sunny days and let the sunshine warm up your rooms during the afternoon. Bespoke blinds, I’m told are specifically designed to insulate better, imagine that, blankets on the windows! This will save you up to 10% on heating bills as well as give you some much-needed vitamin D.
While you’re near the windows…
Check them for efficiency to see if air is coming through any cracks or if the seal is off. Windows that don’t provide good insulation can lose quite a bit of heat in the winter and cool air in the summer, costing you more in the long run. If replacing them with energy-efficient models is outside your budget, consider buying an eco-friendly caulking solution to seal them up instead. You should also check door frames, especially on doors that are exposed to outdoor elements year-round.
Go with the flow
If your budget will allow it, installing a low-flow toilet and shower head can be highly beneficial to your utility costs and can save about half the water you would normally use.
Making your home as eco-friendly as possible doesn’t have to break the bank. Once you have a good idea of what your family needs, look for alternative materials and means to make them more green, then sit back and watch your energy bills drop.
[About the author: Paul Denikin began learning the ins and outs of DIY home repair while making his home better fit and more accessible for his daughter, Maggie, who has special needs. Paul wants to continue to help special needs parents like himself, and offer them a source for ideas. And that’s why he created DadKnowsDIY.com, a website that offers home improvement project how-tos and other accessibility information. When Paul isn’t being handy around the house, he likes to take Maggie to the movies on the weekends.]
Photo via Pixabay by Kathrina5