Green Project Upgrades You Can Do To Keep Your Home Sustainable

Are you fed up with utility bills on the rise? Perhaps you want to update your home to make it more sustainable and help protect the planet. Whatever your reason for making the changes, green projects can transform your place into an oasis of peace and tranquility. Often, tiny updates will gradually improve the energy efficiency in your house. Besides saving money, these minor touches will positively impact the environment and your overall health. Ultimately, green finishes will increase the value of your property if you decide to sell it in the future. According to a report from the U.S. Green Building Council, the interest in green and energy-efficient homes is constantly rising. LEED-certified homes are tending and have jumped by 19 percent since 2017. Moreover, greener properties sell more quickly and at higher prices.

So, how do you start introducing environmentally friendly touches? Will you have to take on significant construction and renovation projects? Many homeowners may get overwhelmed by the available options and statistics. Others may be demotivated due to high investment costs and give up the green fixes. However, there are endless little upgrades that conserve water and electricity, reduce household waste, and promote your well-being. Above all, you can aim to create a better living space that appeals to your senses. As you explore your options, here are several ideas to inspire your next green update and make your home more energy efficient.

Whether you're remodeling or an old model stopped working, shopping for new appliances can be challenging. What should you focus on to make the best pick? To be on the safe side, consider the selling price and the cost of operating the device during its lifetime. Typically, older appliances are inefficient and thus waste your time and money. Newer alternatives cut down the electricity required for operation and work faster. They can also reduce greenhouse emissions and fight global warming, per Residence Style. Consider replacing everything from irons and furnaces to dishwashers and fridges. Investing in sustainable models will lower overall energy consumption and improve your quality of life.

Look for the ENERGY STAR® label because these models exceed the minimum federal requirements for efficiency and quality (via United States Department of Energy). To do so, read the Energy Guide Label on the appliance when shopping and learn about its features. Checking the attached black and yellow label will help you ensure the items run at a low operating cost.

Think about how many cords you leave plugged in every day. Appliances like your fridge probably need to operate 24/7, but what about the TV, electric toothbrushes, computers, and phones? Do they also have to be constantly charging and consuming energy? Certainly not. When not in use, plugged gadgets use phantom energy. While this it's usually a small amount, it adds up if you consider all busy outlet sockets together. Northeast Power estimates they can waste between 4 and 12 percent of the total household energy. The average cost to run household components turned off is about $70 per year.

Unplugging every appliance at home can be tricky. Yet, there are some things you can do to cut the energy bill. For example, use automatic power strips and outlets (via Eartheasy). These let you set timetables and turn your appliances off at specific times. Another method for eliminating phantom loads is switching off all lights, even small LED ones, glowing in the house. Similarly, don't forget to unplug fully charged electronic devices.

In addition to upgrading your windows, a next-generation front door will reduce your annual heating and cooling expenses. To this end, ensure you choose an Energy Star-certified model. Thanks to the energy-efficient materials on these doors, they provide extra insulation for your home. Conversely, improperly insulated exterior doors reduce comfort, allow drafts, and waste your money. Energy Star recommends models with double or triple-paned insulating glass to avoid this scenario. The space between the panes should contain air or gases that boost the door's insulation. The less energy you spend, the greener you live.

Pick a door made of fiberglass, steel, or wood cladding with polyurethane foam core. Energy-efficient materials have a tighter fit and improved weather-stripping (via HomeAdvancement). On top of that, fiberglass and steel don't shrink and swell in extreme temperatures. Since they're durable and modern-looking, they will also help improve your curb appeal.

Are your taps outdated and dripping? Do you still take long hot baths? Perhaps your water heater uses so much energy that your bills have skyrocketed again. If these scenarios seem familiar, think again because ordinary habits can make your money go down the drain. Federal authorities have introduced new standards on fixtures like toilets, showerheads, and sinks to help citizens reduce their water bills. To this end, Chicago Faucets claims that installing a single WaterSense showerhead can save your household $70 per year. Moreover, quick upgrades, including repairing leaks in the plumbing lines, will help reduce waste water.

Upgrading your old water heater for an energy-efficient model without tanks is a wise move, too. Alternatively, get a solar water heater. It's estimated that this investment can save you between 50 and 80 percent of the water-heating cost (via SolarReviews). Besides being less challenging to install than solar roof panels, water heaters will also boost your home's value.

Have you ever thought about making your flooring greener? You probably haven't. Most homeowners do not relate flooring to sustainability and typically pick the least expensive variant. Surprisingly, there are many modern solutions for your home, including affordable eco-friendly flooring. Sustainable wood floors use fewer raw materials, which means less energy and natural resources.

According to Floorsave, oak, pine, and cork are the best materials because they are durable and manufactured with moral responsibility toward the planet. Bamboo is another excellent pick kind to the environment because it grows fast and in abundance. It is also water-resistant, low-maintenance, and easy to install. You can also consider natural linoleum flooring made of all-natural, renewable materials. Thanks to advances in modern finishes, current variants can last over 40 years (via Forbes). Alternatively, go with natural stone, like limestone, sandstone, or slate. Besides being incredibly durable and recyclable, stone is available in almost unlimited supply.

No home can become sustainable without a little upcycling. Typical projects include repurposing broken vases as planters and old tires as flower beds. Similarly, you can transform outdated furniture into fabulous decor pieces or decorate with nature. Make your home greener by intensifying your upcycling efforts. For example, consider finding excess building materials at a home improvement store or a contractor.

Leftovers around your home can also come in handy for remodeling projects. Constrofacilitator claims that reusing scrap lumber, bricks, concrete, steel, and other building materials has multifold benefits for our planet. This approach reduces construction waste, cuts the demand for new resources, and relieves the pressure of producing and transporting new materials. Another thing you can do for sustainable interior decor is repurposing outdoor finds. Use mossy branches or driftwood to decorate your mantel (via Ambience Design Group). Similarly, make pressed flowers to place in vases. Unique outdoor treasures include pinecones, seashells, and beautiful stones.

Novel sustainable home designs require homeowners to think outside the box. An ideal feature for anyone striving to design a green home is living roofs and walls. You may wonder what these are. In short, living surfaces contain a water-retaining layer that enables various flowers, grasses, and shrubs to thrive. Green roof benefits go far beyond financial motivation. They are highly energy-efficient and an eco-friendly alternative that insulates your home naturally.

According to Green Roof Guide, living surfaces increase the roof life expectancy by protecting the roof from extreme weather exposure and also reduce air and noise pollution by absorbing sound. In addition, having a green roof will also improve biodiversity by providing a habitat for wildlife and improve drainage by delaying runoff. Moreover, heat gain and loss figures exceed the performance of other roofing materials and thus boost property value. Likewise, introducing living walls inside the house can make it more energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing. These solutions enrich the interior space and act as air purifiers (via Greenwalls by Botanical Designs).