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3-ways-to-upgrade-your-home-to-be-more-eco-friendly
You always recycle. You take your reusable straw with you wherever you go. You wouldn’t even dream of purchasing a gas-guzzling SUV. What we’re trying to say is, we know how much you care about the environment. Even though you’ve already incorporated a lot of eco-friendly habits into your day-to-day life (which you should be very proud of), the next step is focusing on how to make your home more sustainable.
Keep reading to learn three eco-friendly upgrades for your home.
#1 Start at the Front Door (Literally)
To make your home more eco-friendly, one of the most important things to think about is how to prevent energy from escaping. It takes a lot of resources to heat and cool your home, and the last thing you want is for all that energy to walk out the front (or back, or side, or garage) door.
If your doors are cracked, damaged, worn out, or don’t form a tight seal, consider investing in energy-efficient replacements. This is a great project to start with because it doesn’t require a huge time commitment, and new doors can drastically reduce how much energy it takes to heat and cool your home.
As an added bonus, installing a new door can give your home a brand-new look!
#2 You Need a (Sustainable) Roof Over Your Head
As we said, preventing energy from escaping is one of the most important aspects of making your home more sustainable. Think about it this way—when it’s cold outside, you wear a hat because you lose a lot of heat from your head. The same concept applies to homes, only instead of a hat, you need an energy efficient roof. Take a look at how to make your roof an energy-saving powerhouse
- Install insulation under your roof
- Add a reflective roof coating
- Use a quality ventilation system
- Choose light colors
- Swap asphalt for eco-friendly metal or tile
We’re not going to beat around the bush—whether you decide to upgrade your existing roof, or re-roof your home altogether, this project is a big investment. Thankfully, many companies offer roof financing so you don’t have to cover 100% of the costs upfront.
#3 A Hot Shower Doesn’t Have to be Harmful
You already know that shorter showers are better for the environment. However, it’s still possible to make your (speedy) showers even more eco-friendly by investing in a new water heater. If you want an energy efficient option, consider switching to a:
- Tankless Hot Water Heater – Conventional hot water heaters work by keeping a large tank constantly (and wastefully) filled with hot water. Tankless hot water heaters only heat water when you need it, so energy isn’t lost heating and storing water that just sits there.
- Solar Hot Water Heater – This option is for the serious eco-friendly homeowner. Instead of using energy from the grid, solar water heaters harness the natural power of the sun to heat the water in your home. There are several types of solar water heaters available, some of which even work in climates that are prone to freezing temperatures.
The Environment Will Thank You
Whether you tackle one or all of the eco-friendly upgrades above, we’re proud of you for your commitment to making your home more sustainable. Not only will the environment thank you, but in most cases, you’ll be helping your wallet, too. Even though these upgrades require an initial investment, they’ll usually pay off over time.
Don’t believe us? Just wait until you see how much money you’ll save on your utility bills. Talk about a win-win!
