Climate change is a pressing concern among Americans, with around 65 percent believing the government doesn’t do enough to combat it. While you wait for governmental policies to change, though, that doesn’t mean you’re helpless to do your part. You can embrace eco friendly living through eco friendly decor.
Even better, creating a more energy efficient home comes with the side effect of saving you money on energy bills in the long term. If you’re new to eco friendly home design, keep reading. We’ll offer up some options on how to make your home energy efficient.
Upgrade Your Light Bulbs
By now, you’ve likely switched out all of those old incandescent bulbs for CFLs. That’s a good start since CFLs used around 30 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb. You can do even better with LED bulbs, which use around 25 percent of the energy of an incandescent bulb and last around eight times longer than CFL.
New Appliances
When you buy a home, you may well hang on to many of the appliances that are in the house. It’s a simple way to cut costs when you first move into a place. Of course, older appliances almost always use more energy.
When you decide it’s time for new appliances, keep an eye out for Energy Star-certified appliances. These appliances beat federally mandated minimums for energy efficiency, which translates to lower costs for you.
Upgrade Your HVAC System
Speaking of HVAC, upgrading your HVAC system can create a more energy efficient home. Well-maintained furnace units can last for around two decades or longer. AC units can last 10-15 years.
Of course, furnaces and AC units made ten or fifteen years ago are typically less efficient than more recent models. On top of that, they grow less efficient over time.
New Windows
Windows plays a huge role in your home’s energy efficiency. Older homes, in particular, often have single-pane glass windows that allow easy transmission of heat or cold. Modern, double-pane windows can offer substantial improvement in your energy usage.
Install Solar
Installing solar is one of the biggest ways you can embrace eco friendly living. It dramatically cuts down or even replaces your need for grid-based electricity. That drops your energy bill and cuts down on the fossil fuels you consume through standard energy production.
You should talk with a local installer about how to switch to solar, as well as solar price points.
Eco Friendly Decor and You
Embracing eco friendly decor isn’t an overnight process. At least, making the switch doesn’t need to be an overnight process.
Start with changes you can afford. Maybe that means switching to LED bulbs. Maybe that means replacing one or two appliances a year.
If you’re looking for a big impact, though, getting a solar panel system is the way to go. That can trim your energy bill to nearly zero in some locations.
Looking for more home improvement or efficiency improvement options? Check out the posts over in our Home Design and Home Improvement sections.
