5 Ways to Make Your Home More Environmentally-Friendly
With Earth Day fast approaching, many of us are looking for ways to become more environmentally friendly, especially in our homes. There are avenues for going green outside of recycling and minimizing your use of plastics. Here are few ways to reduce your carbon footprint – just in time for Earth Day!
Start With Your Lights
Leaving lights on when you don’t need them wastes a lot of energy. Instead, open up the blinds and let in some natural sunlight. If you’re not using LED lights, you should change your current light bulbs to these products since they use significantly less energy than incandescent light bulbs.
Upgrade the Thermostat
When you’re not at home, your thermostat shouldn’t be set at the usual temperature. With a programmable thermostat, you can lower the current settings so that the air conditioner or heater only maintains the at-home temperature when you wake up in the morning or come home in the evening.
Ensure Your Home Is Energy-Efficient
Poor insulation can lead to your home being too hot or too cold. Gaps in doorways and windows allow drafts to penetrate your interior. Have an experienced home improvement contractor do an energy audit on your home, and upgrade your insulation, doors and windows as needed.
Invest in Low-Flow Plumbing
Older faucets, showers and plumbing use a lot of water. Newer, low-flow versions utilize a fraction of the water of older systems. Not only will they reduce how much water you use, they’ll also decrease your water bill. You should also get leaks fixed as soon possible to further reduce water consumption.
Upgrade to ENERGY STAR® Products
ENERGY STAR®-rated products include everything from doors to refrigerators to windows to air conditioners. These items meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) energy efficiency specifications. They typically use between 10% and 50% less energy than standard appliances.
Trust Company, a local experienced renovation contractor, can provide you with other suggestions to make your home more environmentally-friendly. Contact us today at (951) 225-3754, or you can fill out our online form.