If you’re concerned about our planet and the future of your children who have to live on it, you are probably concerned about the environment and the effect we have on it. You probably also understand that it will take a combined effort on everyone’s part, if we want to make any significant changes.
That’s why making your house more “green” and green living are so important. But what can you do to help make the world a better place? Just think, if everyone decided to implement green living in their home, what a difference that would make.
So why not do your part? It’s pretty easy to adopt green living practices and it all begins with your home.
The terms “going green” and “sustainable development” are being thrown around a lot lately, but exactly how do you go about implementing a green home strategy that will assist you in conserving energy while helping the environment as well? Here are some green living ideas you can use to start making a difference today.
1. What about going solar?
Installing solar panels either to your roof, on the ground or as part of a co-op are all great ways to save energy. In fact, going solar has many benefits and rewards — and depending on where you live, there are plenty of state and federal incentives for doing so. Some of them are so significant they could cut your solar installation costs in half, if not more.
If your home produces enough energy and your area allows it, you could even sell your excess energy back to the electric company. How great is that?
If you’re one of those people who thought you could never afford to go solar, you just might want to think again. Things have changed and going solar costs significantly less than it used to. With all the available incentives, it’s almost crazy not to make the leap.
Just make sure you do your homework before you make any decisions, because there are plenty of unscrupulous vendors out there who don’t always portray the truth.
2. Should I install a cool roof?
There are many roof renovations that will help your home’s energy efficiency. You can add a product that will reflect the sun and help it cool faster at night, as well as holding less heat for less time, which will help keep your home cooler and your HVAC system from having to work as hard. Products including slate, white tiles, terracotta, metal roofing and special membranes that can be applied to your roof that will all do just that to some degree.
3. What about a living roof as a green feature?
A living roof is one that’s constructed so it will hold live plants. This type of roof consists of a waterproofing membrane and is designed in a way that will allow vegetation to be planted and grown on top of it. A live roof might also include layers such as a root barrier with a drainage and irrigation system.
This type of rooftop garden system is built to prevent rainwater from running into the sewer system, and it will help insulate your home. Living roofs are more commonly used on commercial buildings; however, they can also be used on residential structures as well.
4. Should I use sustainable materials?
Everything from the frame of your house to your flooring can be made from sustainable materials, which can help reduce the impact on the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can help you find wood suppliers who strictly adhere to the industry standards for silviculture.
Sustainable flooring is also a great option. Bamboo and cork are good alternatives to traditional flooring and can help insulate your home while giving it a natural look and feel.
There are other ways you can use sustainable materials to make your home green as well, but there are too many to cover within the scope of this article. However, a quick internet search will give you all the information you need to proceed.
5. What about recycled countertops?
Using recycled countertops as part of your green home strategy is a great idea. There are a wide variety of choices when it comes to recycled countertops, such as granite, quartz, ceramic tile, laminate and more. You should consider recycled paper, glass, aluminum and concrete as well.
6. Are tankless water heaters green?
Yes, tankless water heaters are considered green because they don’t contain a tank of water that requires continual heating. A tankless water heater will produce hot water on demand and will last about five to 10 years longer than a tank water heater will.
7. Does insulation really help conserve energy?
Energy.gov says that adding insulation to an existing home can save you money and make your home feel more comfortable. In fact, adding extra insulation to your home can cut your energy costs by upwards of 15 to 20 percent.
That being said, you should consider using something other than the traditional types of insulation that are now on the market. Recycled denim and shredded newspaper, among other recycled materials, don’t have as many chemicals in them and using them keeps more trash out of the landfills.
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of great ways to implement a green living strategy and none of them are really all that hard. They will pay you back for the effort in spades — not to mention the impact they will have on the environment.
If you would like more ideas for going green and adopting a green lifestyle, you can find a wealth of information on the internet or you can check out some of the boards on pinterest.com for pictures, step by step instructions and plenty of inspiration.
