Going green isn’t just a fad, it’s a smarter way to live. Whether you’re looking for a way to increase the value of your home and attract buyers or simply create a more eco-friendly environment for the family, making a few energy efficient or “green” choices can help you make it happen. Not only is going green fun and easy, it can help you start saving money on your energy bills. So stop fighting it and give into the green life, starting with these 5 home renovations.
1. Lighten Up and Change Your Bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs are a thing of the past; it’s time to upgrade your bulbs to compact fluorescents. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are the swirly bulbs you’ve seen and not only do they use less energy, they also last 10 times longer than your old bulbs and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Other green lighting options are LEDs and Philips Classic bulbs. There are even some government incentives available, click here and find out how you can start saving today with smarter lighting.
2. Update Your Floors with Bamboo or Cork. New flooring will make your whole home look new again and instead of choosing another shade of blah beige carpeting, opt for eco-friendly materials like bamboo or cork. They can be purchased at your local Home Depot and are cheaper than your average hard wood flooring. Bamboo is denser than some woods like oak, so that means you’ll get a much stronger floor with less chance of warping over time.
3. Repaint – Without VOCs. Paints can be full of harmful chemicals called volatile organic compounds or VOCs. These toxins aren’t good for you and your family and some are even known to cause cancer. Don’t have these toxins and compounds polluting the air you breathe everyday in your home, so repaint! Repainting with eco-friendly paint will give you a great selling point for potential buyers and of course a fresh coat of paint is always a must when preparing your home for a sale. Low or no-VOC paints can be purchased from most major companies like Benjamin Moore and Home Depot.
4. Install Solar Panels. Solar panels are a smart and easy way to go green because they’re extremely environmentally friendly and after installation costs – all of your energy is free! By installing solar panels, you no longer have to rely on raw materials like oil and coal which are pricey because you’re paying for the operational labor and production of it every month. Plus most solar panels come with a warranty of 25-30 years so your investment is protected.
5. Replace Old Appliances. Not only are your old appliances outdated and unreliable, they may be costing you extra on your electricity bill each month. Appliances use almost 20% of your home’s energy bill and if your appliances are more than 10 years old, you could save money by upgrading to a new, energy-efficient model. Look for the “Energy Star” logo on new appliances; these can save you 10-15% on your energy and water bill compared to an old standard model.