‘Making a home energy efficient and all-electric (e.g., converting from natural gas and fuel oil) is a great step and also improves indoor air quality.’ says Whitman. With air source heat pumps, heat from the air gets absorbed into a fluid, which causes it to become a gas, which is then compressed, raising its temperature, and this is transferred into the heating system. Bear in mind that a well insulated, air tight home is required if you’re to use an air source heat pump. Homa points to things like photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, radiant flooring, and geothermal heating and cooling systems as technology to consider when building a home. In many cases, green technology is about prioritizing renewable energy sources and making those resources accessible to the home now or in the future.
- This not only improves house comfort but also may result in utility bill savings.
- You will not need to change the bulbs for many years, as they are long-lasting.
- One of the great things about insulation is that it’s very easy to make greener choices in this area since many of the most popular products already incorporate recycled content.
- Meanwhile, clay brick siding brings the same longevity to a home’s exterior walls.
Choose hydronic radiant heating
Sensitive information should be securely destroyed to prevent data breaches, while the remaining paper can be sent to a recycling facility. If you’re handling large volumes https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of documents, look for recycling services that offer secure document destruction. One of the most effective ways to reduce paper waste is by embracing digital alternatives.
Choose Wooden Window Frames
Grass may be a popular lawn option, but it is also water-intensive, difficult to maintain, and can cause allergies. There are plenty of grass alternatives that are not only better for the environment and your health, but many need little to no maintenance. This not only allows you to make better use of this precious resource, but properly-harvested rainwater is also pure and chemical-free, and so better for your health. For instance, water collection is an essential part of an Earthship home. You can also harness the natural water resources through rainwater harvesting.
How can a house improve sustainability?
- A billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away in the United States annually.
- Whether you are planning to do the work yourself or hire a contractor, see how green you can go with your next home-building or remodeling project.
- Building materials can be harmful to the environment in a variety of ways, from the air, water, and land pollution they generate in production to the energy required to create them.
- Energy-efficient windows also use a low-emission coating which reduces UV damage to your furniture, floors and carpets.
Sustainable living is more than just a thing treehuggers talk about. Read the latest posts on living with the planet’s wellbeing always in mind. One way to lower the footprint of concrete is by utilizing precast concrete slabs, which often take less energy to assemble compared to concrete poured on-site. Moreover, Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) should be turned off if unused for over 15 minutes.
Intelligent Planting for a Sustainable House
The neighborhood also promotes public transportation and cycling, offering convenient access to the Staten Island Greenbelt and its extensive hiking trails. If you’re building a home that’s surrounded by beautiful, natural scenery, you don’t want How to make your home more environmentally friendly to disrupt or ruin the environment you fell in love with in the first place. After Whitney Leigh Morris and her family bought 10 acres of protected Florida marshland, she knew she wanted to protect the ecosystem as carefully as possible.
- A further eco heating option is an air source heat pump, or a mini split system, which can be ideal if you’re converting your home from an oil heating system.
- However, don’t worry about your roof obstructing precious winter sunlight!
- Make the habit of turning off lights when not needed or before leaving a room can result in significant energy savings.
- It is very helpful to have a specific idea of where you would like to be once you are out as opposed to a vague feeling that you want to be somewhere else.
- Others argue that certification through green building programs such as LEED is the only way to be sure a home meets adequate sustainability standards.
Buy energy-efficient kitchen appliances
This past year has been especially challenging for people all over the world. Due to the pandemic, people were ordered to be cut off from many of their outlets and support systems. The world’s mental health has been negatively affected including increases in suicide, divorce, anxiety, depression, and relapse. It is true, a more challenging environment coupled with a reduction in outlets will create mental health problems. These hidden gems provide an ideal opportunity for tourists to embrace environmentally safe living while experiencing the energy and diversity that define New York.
Use energy-efficient air conditioners
- Now, we admit that some of the eco-friendly houses below are more accessible than others.
- Of course, an even better option than using new steel made from partially recycled content is using steel made from 100 percent recycled content.
- Unlike traditional light-frame wood construction, mass timber glues, nails and dowels multiple layers of wood together, producing extremely strong and insulating forms.
- And be sure to recycle your old mattress so it doesn’t end up in a landfill.
Or, sign up for a free design consultation with me to get some guidance on the best eco friendly materials for building your home. As mentioned above in the section about steel as a structural building element, most new steel products contain recycled content. A green roof can absorb heat from the sun and contribute to cooling your home in summer and even provide some insulation in winter.
Some people believe that simply adding green features (such as solar panels on the roof) is enough to qualify a standard home as green. Others argue that certification through green building programs such as LEED is the only way to be sure a home meets adequate sustainability standards. Regardless of opinion, most people agree that sustainable home building offers numerous advantages to both homeowners and communities. Reducing your energy consumption will save you money on your utility bills. Additionally, using renewable resources will help reduce your carbon footprint. And finally, by reducing waste, you will help preserve our planet’s limited resources.
