How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Adopting green technology while building or renovating your home will add more value to it. The latest home design innovation and upgrades should also aim at making a home more energy efficient. Below are some of the simple ways you can make your home more energy efficient.

Solar power

Though investing in solar power generation may cost you a lot, you will end up saving much more in electricity bills in the long run. You will also be able to recover the cost through government and utility incentives. Another advantage is that the demand for solar-powered homes is on the rise. This consequently increases the return on investment when the house is eventually sold.

Install low-emissivity glass

The two main reasons why you need to install low-emissivity glass on your windows are in order to save on energy and to improve curb appeal. Improvements in glazing and insulation will help reduce power wastage. The coatings on low-emissivity glass will reflect extreme temperatures. As such, the windows will be efficient in temperature regulation during both cold and hot days.

Water filtration system

Investing in a home water filtration system will help to reduce waste when compared to bottled or tap water. Investing in this system is going to add more value to your home. Your family still gets purified water, and since you do not need to use bottled water or even appliances to purify the water, you save on energy and conserve the environment as well.

Low-flow toilets and showerheads

Cutting down on water wastage is key to ensuring that your home is more eco-friendly. Low-flow toilets use half the amount of water to flush and are as efficient as normal standard toilets. Composting toilets may also be installed. This can also greatly reduce the amount of water used to flush toilets.

In addition, the modern low-flow shower heads have more pressure and are as effective in ensuring that you have a satisfying shower.

Finally, invest in gray water systems. They will help you recycle water used in sinks, showers, and washing machines. The water may then be used to water your lawn and landscape. This will help to reduce water usage and your water bills.

Eco-friendly living spaces

One should also consider the materials used to decorate or renovate a home. If you are building a new home, materials used should be eco-friendly. Bamboo flooring is recommended. For the bathroom, kitchen and living room, marble, locally sourced tiles, or wood are also appropriate. Natural materials should also be used for textiles. Remember, homebuyers are conscious about eco-friendly homes.

Energy-efficient appliances

Investing in LED lights that have dimmers, timers, and switches is one way to make your home more energy efficient. This helps in saving electricity bills. Installing smart appliances that consume less energy also adds value to your home. Consider installing energy-efficient HVAC units as well. A technology that helps save energy is very important in the housing industry both now and in future. Solar ovens, which work by trapping sunlight energy, will also help to reduce energy bills.

Landscape designs

Opt for water-wise landscaping. A landscaped yard will increase the curb appeal of a property, thus adding value to the property. Invest in a drip irrigation system in order to reduce the amount of water used to maintain the landscape. Most homebuyers will be looking for landscapes that require minimal maintenance procedures. This is especially the case for busy homeowners.

Vertical farming could also be incorporated in landscape designs for your home. This way, you save on food bills since you can grow some foods – especially veggies. Due to the fact that this is controlled farming, there is minimal use of pesticides. As a homeowner, you are then assured of organic farm produce.

Eco-friendly concrete

Use of eco-friendly concrete in building a home has many advantages. The concrete contains titanium dioxide, which can absorb pollution and impurities in the air. It can also absorb and destroy smog, purifying the environment. It is also self-cleaning. As such, the walls of your home will not be prone to stains and dark marks. Eco-friendly concretes are already in use in Holland.

Conclusion

The demand for such eco-friendly homes is high, so investors in real estate and home owners should take advantage of each of these technologies. It will yield a higher return on investment.

Remember, going green also means a change in lifestyle. Taking shorter showers to reduce water and heat usage and dressing warmly in the winter and light in the summer also helps to reduce the use of HVAC units. Invest in rainwater tanks to harvest as much rainwater as possible. Building houses that use natural light also reduce electricity bills, thus adding to the value of the home.