Going green is a lifestyle-changing decision that can help make our planet safe and preserve it for future generations.
But with the number of new environmental disasters increasing every day, it may seem like changing your lifestyle and going green can’t make a huge difference.
However, every small contribution to reducing carbon emissions can help make our planet safe.
According to a report produced by the UN in 2018, we have about 12 years to lower its carbon emissions if we want to protect our planet for future generations.
And this cannot be accomplished without all the governments and companies playing their parts.
As an individual, the roles you play also help reduce the world’s overall carbon footprint. Other than protecting our environment, going green has numerous other benefits.
So here are a few tips to help you create a sustainable home this spring and save some money in the process.
One of the best ways of creating a sustainable house for your entire family is installing solar panels.
In fact, switching to renewable energy sources can help you lower your dependency on fossil fuels.
The initial investment might be high, but in the long run, it will help you protect the environment and return some cash into your wallet every month.
And if you plan on going completely off-grid, YourEnergyBlog advises that you find out how many panels your home needs.
This means finding out how much energy you use per month and using any of the solar calculators online or contacting a professional for help.
Instead of letting rainwater go to waste or flooding your entire compound, you can harvest it into some barrels and save it for the dry seasons.
And with spring being the rainiest season in most places, this might be the best time to install a durable barrel and some downspouts to help you harvest the rainwater.
Luckily, there are several types of barrels in the market that vary in size and quality, so look for a huge one that can collect more than enough water, which you can use to wash the house, cars, and even water your plants.
After all, it’s a known fact that plants love rainwater more than tap water because it’s not chlorinated. And this will reduce your water bills the entire summer.
Energy-efficient bulbs have been in the market for several years, and many people avoided them in the past because they believed that they don’t produce enough light.
But, thanks to technological improvements, these bulbs have improved, and more people have become aware of their benefits.
Energy-efficient bulbs use less energy and can light up your entire house. So other than reducing your energy bills, these bulbs also last longer than the old-fashioned bulbs.
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A well-insulated building holds heat properly; therefore, it will take less time to heat it during the cold seasons.
And the fact that cold air is not getting inside means that you will use less energy to keep your entire family warm during the rainy seasons.
So make sure you insulate your windows, roofs, and walls.
You can also reduce your energy bill by preventing air leaks with caulk around the windows and weather stripping under your doors.
Preventing air leaks can prevent warm and cold air from escaping outside and keep your air conditioner from constantly working to maintain the desired temperature.
When it’s time to replace some of the appliances in the house, you should always go for energy-efficient options.
Energy-efficient appliances have an energy star certification meaning that they have the highest level of energy efficiency.
These appliances will reduce your monthly energy consumption and serve you for a very long time.
You can also confirm if the electricity provider has incentives for replacing old appliances with energy-efficient options.
This suggestion is quite logical; a programmable thermostat will reduce the temperature when everyone is sleeping or switch off the AC when no one is at home.
This thermostat will regulate the home’s temperature as per the settings that you created for certain times.
The added benefit of installing a programmable thermostat is that it will help you reduce the cooling and heating costs.
To lower the amount of water used in the house, you can replace your current showerheads with low-flow options.
This will help you reduce wastage, plus you can teach your children to never leave the faucets running after they have finished using them.
You can also reuse the water used to wash vegetables and fruits instead of allowing it to go directly to the drain.
This water can be used to wash the house, flush the toilet, or water the plants.
You can also plant indigenous vegetation all over your house. These plants require fewer pesticides, fertilizers, and water to thrive in your backyard.
VOCs (Volatile organic compounds) are harmful elements that can cause irritation to your eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
They can also cause nausea and headaches. When exposed to sunlight, VOCs tend to react with the nitrogen oxide produced by the industries, power plants, and vehicles to create ozone.
The accumulation of ozone, fine particulates created by VOCs, and other pollutants can result in smog creation, which reduces visibility.
Uncontrolled emissions of VOCs and other solvents can act as greenhouse gases and cause climate changes.
Therefore, you should try and use no-to-little VOC cleaning products and paints in the house.
Luckily, more and more of no VOCs products are being introduced in the market.
Creating a sustainable home for your family is one of the best ways to keep them healthy.
Other than saving money, going green will leave your family eating healthy and reducing pollution.
And by playing your part in making our planet clean this spring, you will help lower the global carbon footprint.
