7 Practical Tips For Constructing An Eco-Friendly Home

November 3, 2022 By Anne

Building an eco-friendly home is a great way to protect the environment. There are numerous advantages for the body and mind living in an eco-friendly home. For starters, it aids in lowering utility costs and saving more. Moreover, you can lower your carbon footprint while promoting a healthy indoor environment. Do you want to create an eco-friendly home but are unsure where to begin? Here are some practical tips worth considering.

Install proper insulation

Insulation is a crucial factor to consider when constructing an eco-friendly home. Indeed, most energy in your home is used for heating and cooling. However, heat loss is caused by air leaks around windows, doors, and ducting. Seeing this, you don’t want poor insulation to render your indoor cooling and heating ineffective. With proper insulation, your energy use and energy costs will drop significantly. You’ll find it helpful to use green insulation instead of non-renewable options. Green insulation leverages discarded and worn-out materials like denim and newspaper, so keep this in mind.

Build your home in the right location

Location is essential, making it essential to prioritize it. Experts advise against building your home westward, as that will reduce sun exposure. Consequently, avoid constructing a home in areas vulnerable to earthquakes, hurricanes, or flooding. You also want to ensure easy access to public transit, grocery stores, schools, offices, parks, and so on. This way, you can avoid driving all the time, reducing your footprint.

Utilize eco-friendly building materials

Using eco-friendly materials should be on your list, as they can lessen the environmental impact of construction. Every component of your home, from the cabinets and insulation to the flooring and roofing materials, should be sourced from renewable sources. Use natural items like bamboo, recovered lumber, recycled plastic, and recycled glass. Even natural paints, which easily degrade without releasing chemicals, help prevent harmful environmental effects, so feel free to consider them. When buying these paints, read the labels to ensure they have low VOC levels and avoid inhaling toxic substances.

Put up solar panels

Consider using solar energy, as it’s free, clean, and sustainable. You need solar panels to harness the sun’s energy, so keep this in mind. Even though it can be expensive, it can provide long-term benefits. For instance, Utilizing solar energy will reduce energy usage and generate extra energy. The amount of power you can gather can depend on your home’s location and how your solar panels are installed. Therefore, you’ll find it helpful to work with professional solar panel installers to achieve the best results, so feel free to consider this.

Use energy-efficient windows

The issue with improperly sealed windows and doors is that they allow air to enter and leave the house. As a result, your heating and cooling systems must work harder to maintain a steady temperature inside the house, wasting energy and increasing expenses. For an environmentally friendly home, think about selecting energy-efficient windows. These windows offer enough energy savings, so keep this in mind. As a tip, work with credible energy efficient window installation experts to get the best window options for your home. Good blinds will also add to your energy-efficiency, as they will help you to maintain a consistent temperature within the home by blocking out heat. Pay Half Price Blinds a visit if you want to find out more.

Consider Choosing Efficient Faucet Fixtures

According to the World Health Organization, one in three people experience water scarcity, and access to clean water for residential use is becoming increasingly challenging. By ensuring you’re only using the water you need, you can contribute to fixing the water problem and building an environmentally friendly home. Fixtures for the bathroom and kitchen are being changed in various ways to reduce their environmental impact. For instance, using electronic faucets enables the water to only run when necessary, using less water overall.

Invest in tankless water heaters and rainwater harvesting systems

When designing your eco-friendly home, install a rainwater harvesting system to collect rainwater from rooftops and store it in a tank. Other uses for the gathered water include sprinkler systems and toilets. One of the most popular ways to collect rainwater today is with rain barrels. You do not have to wait for the water to heat up when using a tankless water heater. When using a tankless water heater, the amount of water heated is determined by how much water is used. Additionally, since it only heats the needed water, it reduces unnecessary energy expenditures. Secondly, you gain plenty of storage space by removing the hot water tank.

Building an eco-friendly home is beneficial for many reasons. Make sure to consider these solutions while creating the designs for your new home to contribute to environmental preservation.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Do Your Bit For The Planet By Sorting These Things In Your Home

September 27, 2022 By Anne

Everyone should be doing their bit for the planet. Some will be able to do more than others, and other people will only be able to do a small amount. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you end up doing, as long as you are doing your best for the world that we live in. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can do to ensure that you’re doing your bit for the planet. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Grow Your Own Food

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First, have you thought about growing your own food? The way that food is grown right now is en masse, and often requires the use of pesticides depending on where your food was grown. Instead of relying solely on the food supply from shops. There are certain things that you will be able to grow in the comfort of your own home such as various fruits and vegetables. Not only is this better for the environment as you won’t be using pesticides, but it’s also good for you to know how to do this. The food is fresher when you have sorted it yourself, which is just another one of the amazing benefits of trying to be more eco-friendly.

Don’t Waste Water

Have you thought about how much water you actually waste? Now, while water doesn’t get wasted in the same way as other materials, this does not mean that you should waste it. The waste of water can end in a drought, as while we seem to think it’s an infinite resource, this is simply not the case. As such, you should be fixing any problems with water as soon as you can. Turn the tap off when you are brushing your teeth, don’t leave the tap running when you’re doing the dishes, get a local plumbing company to come and take a look at the leaking pipe. There are so many things that you can do to avoid wasting water, and if the planet is not enough of an incentive for you, it will save you on your bill also.

Alternative Energy Options

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The final thing that we’re going to mention is that you may want to consider looking into alternative energy options. We do not need to entirely rely on electricity as there are other forms of energy out there. If you live somewhere the sun shines all the time, then solar might be worth looking into. If you live somewhere where there’s more wind, then wind energy is a better option!

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do in your home to do your part for the planet. Everyone should be doing something to try and keep the world in the best possible condition, so it’s important that we all know what can be done. Now, you have somewhere to start, so get on it as soon as you can. Even a small change can have a big impact!

Anne

How To Help The Environment As A Consumer

September 17, 2022 By Anne

As a consumer, you probably try to help the environment as much as possible. You’ll be looking for all kinds of ways to ensure that you are doing the right thing. Sometimes this isn’t easy, especially if you need something specific, and the only way to get it seems to be to add to your carbon footprint. This is why it’s important to know your options; the more you know about how you can help the environment, the more positive choices you can make. This will help you – and the planet – in all aspects of life. Read on to find out more.

Photo by Steve Johnson

Choose Environmentally Friendly Companies

Assuming you have a choice in where you buy your goods, it’s a good idea to spend some time researching the various companies you might be able to use. There are some that are much more eco-friendly than others, and using the ones that prove they recycle, cut down on their emissions as much as possible, put measures in place for water conservation, and do all they can to protect the planet is a good way to ensure you are just as conscientious as a consumer.

Don’t Use Plastic Bags

We mentioned single-use plastic above because it really is an issue when it comes to the environment. Plastic shopping bags are one of the worst examples of this; they are used once, then go to landfill, or, even worse, they litter the streets and green spaces. They can be fatal to wildlife, and they take many hundreds of years to decompose.

Avoiding plastic bags where you can is the best thing to do. This is much easier today than it has ever been because there are so many options available. Many stores offer tote bags or bags that, although made of plastic, are meant to be used multiple times. You can bring your own reusable bags to the store and use that too, which saves you money and ensure you don’t have to use one-time-use plastic bags.

Use Reusable Water Bottles

Everyone has to drink each day. If you’re at home, that’s not an issue – fill up a glass or a mug, drink from it, clean it, and use it again when you next need a drink. When you’re out shopping or at work, it’s a different story – you’ll still need to drink, but in many cases, unless you choose to sit in a restaurant, you’ll have to use disposal beverage containers. They might be plastic, which we know is bad, but even if they are cardboard and can be recycled, it would be better not to have to throw them away at all.

That’s why it’s a good idea to have a reusable water bottle with you at all times. You can top this up when you need to and never have to throw anything away. If you prefer hot drinks like coffee, you can get coffee cups that can be reused too, and the baristas will use those rather than their own.

Anne

Tips For Running a Sustainable Small Business

August 9, 2022 By Anne

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If you’ve started a business at home, then you might be concerned about how you can maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle while working. The good news is that working from home can already be a more sustainable option, especially if you consider the fact that you cut down on the commute to and from work.

However, there is always room for improvement and always a good reason to improve how environmentally friendly you are, whether you’re at work or relaxing. Here are some ways to do so.

Use Natural Light Where Possible

When you’re working, it’s important to make sure that you’re in a well-lit environment. This is better for your productivity and your health. Sitting at a bright laptop in a dark room can lead to eye strain, as can trying to work in dim environments.

However, bright lights can increase your energy usage. One way to get the best of both worlds is to take advantage of natural light. If possible, work near windows and in bright areas of your home, allowing you to cut down on the need to switch the lights on. It’s also better for your health, as most people feel better in sunlight.

Sustainable Packaging

If your business involves creating and sending products to customers, then you can immediately improve your sustainability by switching out the packaging. If possible, use less packaging. You should also switch out plastic packaging for recyclable or biodegradable materials, like paper or cardboard.

Instead of bubble wrap or polystyrene, use biodegradable packing materials, such as paper or soybean packaging that can be composted. This also looks better for your customers, who will notice your efforts.

Solar Power

The downside to working from home is that you use a lot more electricity. One way to cut down on your energy bills is to use solar energy, a renewable power source, to keep your home charged.

Use the best solar company you can find to produce your electricity. You can be assured that the energy you use is clean and you could save a great deal of money. The sun is a fantastic natural source of power, so it seems a shame to let it go to waste.

Eco-Friendly Office Supplies

Every office needs supplies, but with a little bit of research and effort, you can make sure that the supplies and stationery you use are more eco-friendly. Use recycled paper and supplies made with recycled materials.

If possible, use natural and biodegradable materials for your supplies and furniture. When purchasing furniture for your office, look for second-hand options. This way, you’re saving the environment and a few dollars.

Reuse and Recycle

Unfortunately, every office will produce a measure of waste. This waste might end up in landfills, where it pollutes the ground and water in an area. However, if you’re discerning about what you throw out and when, you can reduce the amount of waste that you produce. Only get the materials that you need and reuse or recycle wherever possible.

Anne

5 Benefits of Going Green for Your Home

August 8, 2022 By Anne

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The world is quickly becoming more and more interested in going green, and for a good reason! There are countless benefits to making your home more environmentally friendly. This blog post will discuss five of the most important benefits of going green. From decreased energy bills to improved air quality, there are many reasons to make the switch! Keep reading to learn more.

1) Going green can help you save money on your energy bills.

One of the most common motivators for going green is saving money. And it makes sense – by using less energy, you’ll inevitably see a decrease in your energy bills. There are a number of ways to make your home more energy-efficient, from installing solar panels to investing in Energy Star appliances. Companies like Abe Issa solar will provide your home with the best solar-powered essentials on the market. No matter which route you choose, going green is sure to put some extra cashback in your pocket each month.

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2) It can also help you save water.

Another way going green can help you save money is by decreasing your water consumption. This is important not only for your wallet but also for the environment. There are a number of ways to reduce your water usage, such as installing low-flow fixtures or collecting rainwater. Not only will you be saving money on your water bill, but you’ll also be doing your part to conserve this precious resource.

Water conservation is important for another reason – it can help reduce the strain on local water supplies. In many parts of the world, fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce. By reducing your own water usage, you can help preserve this vital resource for future generations.

3) Going green can improve your air quality.

Another important benefit of going green is that it can improve the quality of the air inside your home. This is especially important for people who suffer from allergies or asthma, as poor air quality can exacerbate these conditions. There are a number of ways to improve the air quality in your home, such as investing in an air purifier or planting some houseplants. By taking these steps, you’ll be able to breathe better – and you’ll also be doing your part to protect the environment.

4) It can help you lead a healthier lifestyle.

When you live in a green home, you’re not only helping the environment – you’re also helping yourself! Living in an eco-friendly home can lead to a healthier lifestyle. For example, if your home is well-insulated, you’ll be less likely to catch a cold or the flu. And if your air quality is good, you’ll be less likely to suffer from allergies or asthma attacks. By making some simple changes to your home, you can improve your health and wellbeing.

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5) Reduce waste and live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Another benefit of going green is that it can help you reduce the amount of waste you produce. This is important not only for the environment but also for your wallet! There are a number of ways to reduce your waste, such as recycling or composting. By making some simple changes to the way you live, you can help make a difference in the world – and you might even save some money in the process!

As you can see, there are many benefits to going green. From saving money to improving your health, there are plenty of reasons to make your home more eco-friendly. Start making some changes today and enjoy all the benefits of going green!