Green is in and isn’t going anywhere! Buildings that are built to be environmentally conscious lower emissions of greenhouse gases and reduce their carbon footprint. Aside from that, the way they’re built also results in reduced use of energy, meaning lower energy bills. Let’s take a look at a few small things you can do to make your house a bit easier on both the environment and your wallet.

Reclaimed Wood

Reusing is one critical part of building in a way that’s eco-friendly. You might also want to check with your tax services professional on this because making green upgrades to your home might get you a rebate or two in certain states. Back to the wood though – cutting forests down contributes to the world getting hotter. Trees work hard to reduce pollution and recycle air. If you’re planning a renovation, visit a teardown or a home being remodeled and see if they have any wood you can reclaim.

Pre-Owned

Another way to save money on home renovations is to go with items that have been previously owned. Most of the time, we tend to think of being friendly to the earth in terms of energy, but it also has to do with not ordering virgin, brand new materials unless we absolutely need to. If you need a new sofa or kitchen furniture, try your local thrift store.

Garage Door

A lot of the time, this item isn’t one that’s in the eco-friendly discussion. However, they should be! Any general contractor can tell you that a garage door should be replaced every couple of decades. In most homes, they happen to be the largest moving part. Their contribution to creating energy efficiency that leaves the cold out and the heat in is incredibly significant when it comes to regulating the temperatures in a home while also reducing the expenditure of energy.

Windows

Homes that are energy efficient tend to heat as much as they can by utilizing the sun. The more of the sun that can get into your home, the less need you have to burn any sort of fossil fuels to warm the house up. A fantastic way to let the sun in is with energy efficient windows – large ones.

If the windows face to the south, that’s best, but large windows on each side of the house will be a massive contribution toward having a natural source for both light and heat. 

Air Flow

Did you know that in most homes, nearly 20% of the energy used to cool and heat escapes due to airflow? Poor airflow means that when it’s cold outside, heat gets out through windows, basement walls, and doors. Same thing when it’s hot outside. Energy can also leave through attics, doors, windows, and ducts or electrical switches. Go through your home and inspect it for air leaks. Some of them can be repaired with some simple caulking, and that alone can make a massive difference.

Eco-friendly upgrades such as maximizing the airflow, getting an energy-efficient garage door, buying pre-owned, having energy-efficient windows, and using reclaimed wood will assist you when it comes to lowering your carbon footprint as well as your energy bills. Who doesn’t want to help the environment and save some cash? Also, these changes may even raise the resale value of your house! 

The best part about these things is that they aren’t major undertakings, but small things that can be done incrementally. You’ll be able to continue enjoying your home while you’re also making it better for the environment – essentially doing your part to help fight against global warming.