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“Going Green” doesn’t mean sacrificing your home’s most useful and luxurious features. It simply means creating an energy-efficient home design to save money, energy, and even the planet.
Purchasing a home is one of the largest investments we’ll ever make. But, some homeowners make the mistake of not budgeting for additional costs outside of their mortgage. One of the expenses that can get out of hand quickly in the winter and summer months is our utilities.
Our utilities reflect how energy-efficient our homes are and our attitudes towards using energy. Of course, we want our homes to be cozy and comfortable and with energy-efficient home design, you can still feel right at home.
There are many ways to instantly make your home more energy-efficient. It doesn’t require a full remodel or knocking down any walls. It’s simply a matter of choosing the right products, investing in energy-efficient features, and changing your mindset.
Designing an energy-efficient home also won’t require you to hire a professional. Although, a professional may be able to give you some expert individualized tips.
Read on to learn how you can create an energy-efficient home design with ease.
Going Green: Energy Efficient Home Design Tips
As a nation, we are becoming more and more aware of the effects of energy usage. We also are more in tune with how our energy usage can affect our environment. For example, how pollution and cultivating energy sources can harm ecosystems.
As worldly citizens, we are all responsible for doing our part in reducing our carbon footprint. And, one of the areas we have complete control over our energy usage is in our homes. And, with the right tools, knowledge, and products we can greatly reduce our energy usage.
But, the benefits of reducing our energy consumption don’t just stop at making the planet healthier. We can also see the financial benefits for our bank accounts.
Explore the following ways to create an energy-efficient home design so you can save the planet and save some much-needed cash while doing so.
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Upgrade Your Thermostat
Upgrading your home’s thermostat is a great place to start in creating an energy-efficient home design. Smart thermostats can now be controlled from any location in the world, which allows you to reduce your energy consumption as needed.
Smart thermostats can also be programmed to turn off and on at specific times of the day. For example, the thermostat can be turned off during the day and kick on an hour before you return home.
Invest in Energy Efficient Windows
Windows are one of the biggest causes of lost energy. Air can easily enter and leave your home through your home’s windows. This is especially true for older windows or single-pane windows.
To preserve the energy in your home and maintain your home’s temperature, you’ll need to invest in energy-efficient windows. These replacement windows can drastically help you to conserve energy and to make your home more energy-efficient.
LED Light Bulbs
There’s no need to live in the dark to go green and reduce your home’s energy usage. Simply replace incandescent lights bulbs with LED light bulbs. LED light bulbs use less energy, are affordable, and are long-lasting.
This makes them a sound long-term investment that can improve your energy-efficient home design.
Adding Attic Insulation
A significant portion of energy loss occurs through the attic. By adding additional insulation to your attic you can help to reduce your energy bills and usage. As a result, your home will become more energy-efficient without sacrificing your need for a comfortable home temperature.
Low-Flow Showerheads
Replace your traditional showerheads with low-flow showerheads. These showerheads use roughly half of the amount of water as other showerheads. These showerheads will still allow you to take nice, warm showers each morning but without the need to wastewater and your hard-earned money each day.
Energy Star Appliances
Energy star rated appliances can help you to improve your energy-efficient home design. These appliances come in sleek, fashionable designs, so you won’t need to sacrifice style for energy efficiency.
Simply look for the energy star rating and logo and feel confident that these products will help to reduce your energy consumption and your monthly utility bills.
Solar Panels
Solar panels work by gathering energy from the sun to use in your home. Solar panels are a more expensive investment, but you can greatly reduce your energy consumption by gathering energy naturally. There are also solar tax credits available to people who own and install solar panels, which is an added benefit.
Solar panels also store energy to use at a later date. If you have extra energy stored in your solar panels, then you can also sell this energy to utility companies.
Energy-Efficient Home Design – Taking Action
If you’re convinced that creating an energy-efficient home design is right for you, then it’s time to take action. To start, you need to create a plan and begin conducting research.
You’ll first need to find the right energy-efficient products for you. You’ll also need to create a budget and save up so you can invest in energy-efficient products.
Before purchasing any energy-efficient products for your home, seek out online reviews. Read these online reviews to determine how well the product functions and how long it lasts. Reading online reviews can also serve as a source of inspiration as you learn how these products helped others to reduce their energy usage.
To find reviews seek out product reviews, blogs, and search engine results. It’s also a good idea to read through the company’s return policies and product guarantees. Warranties are also a good sign that the product is made to last and indicates that it’s potentially a good investment.
Want to learn other ways you can “go green” in your daily life? Check out our blog post to learn more.
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