Easy Ways to Make Your Home Green

When people think about saving the environment, the first things that come to mind are: recycle more and litter less. While we should all be doing both of these things, there’s so much more you can do to minimize your environmental footprint.

The home you live in has multiple systems: plumbing, electrical, heating & cooling.

There are things you can easily do within these three home systems that will make your home more Green.

1) Switch to LEDs

Compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are better in just about every single way.

While they do cost more to purchase than traditional bulbs, they make up for it in the cost of electricity. LEDs will cost you roughly six times less in electrical costs compared to incandescent bulbs.

On top of that, they last more than five times longer than any other bulb, have a brighter light, andemit less heat. They save you energy, and save you money (in the long run).

2) Use Less Water

Using less water can be done by upgrading plumbing fixtures AND altering your daily habits.

• Upgrade Plumbing – Old dishwashers, toilets, shower heads, and water heaters can all waste a lot of water. Regulations over the last decade have increased greatly, which means newer plumbing fixtures will use significantly less water — and in some cases, half the amount. Available now are low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, water conscious dishwashers, and tankless water heaters (which saves energy as well by not heating a tank filled with water).

• Be More Conscious – There are a few simple habits that can cause a person to use more than double the water they need in a single day (which can add up to a lot over a year’s time). Turn off the sink faucet while brushing your teeth, limit the amount of baths you take (avoid filling the tub too much), shower in under 10 minutes, and of course — don’t ignore any slow-drip leaks you might see.

3) Be Smarter With Your HVAC System

Obviously, having a top-of-the-line HVAC system will help your home use less energy. But it’s also about how you equip and maintain that system.

• Smart Thermostat – Installing a smart thermostat will read the indoor temperatures more accurately, thus preventing the HVAC system from turning on and off too much. You will also have access to zone cooling (and heating), and the ability to adjust everything from a mobile device app — talk about a mobile energy saver!

• Yearly Maintenance – When your HVAC system has no faulty parts, it will operate at its most efficient state. The only way to make sure it’s always running in this state is to have it serviced and maintained by an HVAC technician every single year. During spring, have the cooling portion serviced. When the fall arrives, have the heating portion serviced.

A green home will use less energy and waste less water — it’s up to you to make it a reality.

When you need an electrician, plumber, or HVAC technician to service your home (and make it greener), our pros would be more than happy to help you out!