Here's Why You Should Go Green
I'm a big believer in green living. You'll be hard-pressed to find any products in my home that aren't environmentally friendly or cruelty-free, and all my appliances are Energy Star certified.
But aside from treating Mother Nature the way she deserves, what are the benefits of going green at home? Here's the quick overview:
Why go green?
Whether it's a small eco-friendly habit change or a major energy-saving home upgrade, going green comes with a slew of benefits.
Reducing carbon footprint: The environment will thank you for cutting down on unnecessary waste, as the greenhouse gas emissions from your home can be lower. EnergySage notes that a large portion of household greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity use. Simply turning the lights off more often and upgrading to energy efficient light bulbs can reduce your emissions, which is beneficial to both the ozone layer and natural animal habitats.
Saving money: The Department of Energy estimates that the average household pays an additional $200 to $400 each year in utilities because of wasted energy. With energy efficient appliances and home upgrades, you can cut these losses and help to lower your monthly bills. Going green can also qualify you for certain tax credits and rebates.
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Increasing home value: With the growing appeal of eco-friendly living, HGTV points out that green upgrades can boost the value of your home when it's time to sell. If you don't plan to move any time soon, the utility savings still make for a worthy return on investment.
Enhancing your quality of life: Optimizing your energy use and living a greener life can enhance the air quality in your home, which is better for your health and everyday comfort.
If you're on board with green living, there are many ways to be eco-friendly and energy efficient at home. To name a few:
- Reduce waste: Be smarter about what you throw away, recycling and composting as much as possible. Another easy change: Try reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones.
- Save energy: Seal your windows, unplug electronics when you're not using them, only run full laundry and dishwasher loads and so on to conserve energy.
- Conserve water: Try these eight ways to change your water use habits for the better.
- Insulate like a pro: Proper insulation controls heat flow, helping your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently.
- Use green cleaners: Switch to products that are free from toxic chemicals and, therefore, better for the environment.
- Be an Energy Star: Upgrade your appliances, lighting and windows to the most energy efficient options.
- Make smart upgrades: Programmable thermostats, lighting control systems and smart home devices can boost your home's efficiency.
- Go solar: Consider installing solar panels to run your home on the sun's sustainable and renewable energy.
Going green is about respecting our gorgeous planet. But going green also means having a more energy efficient home, which can help you to save and spend smartly.
Being prepared for home repairs is another smart move. See how plans from HomeServe can help with the costs of covered repairs.
