Since the early 2000s, many homeowners have eagerly been looking for ways to improve their home for not only functionality and beauty, but also for clean living so that they can impact the environment and their families in a good way. Lots of people have turned many parts of their home “green” in ways that are not the most efficient and effective for their budgets and their personal lives.
In this blog post, we are going to share some of our top recommendations that are not only good and sustainable for the environment, but that will actually help you save time and money in the long run! Each of these changes can be simple to apply to your lives, and we also have some bigger renovation ideas for your home, too. Enjoy the article and begin to think and apply these ideas to your home!
1. Change Your Lightbulbs to LED Lights
LED Lightbulbs are one of the simplest fixes you can do to save energy in your home! Forbes Magazine promotes LED Lightbulbs as a “no brainer” for your home. And although these types of lightbulbs typically cost more upfront than other lightbulbs, you will actually be saving more money in the long run than using your typical lightbulb. Plus, you can also find LED lights for holiday and outdoor use.
The light emitting from the LED lightbulbs is typically less harsh, too, and looks nicer than the yellow-ish tint coming from most regular lightbulbs.
2. Build an Outdoor Kitchen for Exterior Functionality
This is a great investment for your home. Not only is it a beautiful addition, but this can help to converse on energy use in your kitchen! Switch from doing all your meals indoors to hosting fun dinner evenings for you, your family and your guests.
An outdoor kitchen is one a renovation that may cost more upfront with installation, creating a space to cook and eat, and all the additional fun gadgets than can come along with the space, but this can also save you money in the long run and add value to your home if you ever intend to sell it. You can read more about the value of investing in an outdoor kitchen in this recently updated blog post.
Another great thing about outdoor kitchens is that they get your family from being stuck inside all day to being outdoors more often. As we all know, being outdoors is good for our health, when it comes to gaining vitamin D and boosting our moods. Even in the wintertime, an outdoor kitchen can still be utilized. You can also build a fireplace if you choose not to go for the full outdoor kitchen, and that would also be a product you can use year-round.
3. Invest in Energy-Efficient Windows
The Spruce shares how poor windows and the insulation around them can be one of the biggest expenses when it comes to your home! We tend not to think about these when it comes to making changes to your home, but when you have windows properly installed and that are energy efficient, not only will you be improving the natural light in your home, but you will also save on your energy bills because you won’t spend as much on heating and air conditioning.
This does not mean you have to add more window space in your home. In fact, we don’t necessarily recommend that. This just means switching out your windows and ensuring that you have them properly installed to prevent air from coming through the window’s cracks.
4. Invest in Low-Flow Fixtures
Although low-flow sometimes takes getting used to, this is one of the best ways to make your home eco-friendly, especially in Lancaster, PA. Investing in these types of fixtures saves multiple gallons per use of the toilet, shower and sinks that can be found in your home! Not only is using less water more cost efficient for your home, but it’s also one of the most eco-friendly investments you can make.
Energy.gov also recommends fixing any faucets that may leak. This is another one of those “easy fixes” that can lead to some major clean-living results! According to their website, if you fix your leaking faucet, you can save up to 1,661 gallons of water every year. Talk about reducing waste!
You can also make changes to other places you use water, like your dishwasher or your washing machine. Investing into newer appliances can also lead to eco-friendly and cost-effective benefits in the long run.
5. Creating a Garden Space for Your Home
This is a very broad topic, especially because there are so many benefits to having a garden space for your home. On top of that, you can have any type of garden, from a vegetable garden to a serene oasis or forest in your backyard.
Benefits-wise, having a garden space for your home can help lead to cleaner air outside of your home, which is especially needed if you live in Lancaster, PA, with its poor air quality. On top of that, it’s more of a reason to get into the outdoors. Owning and maintaining a garden has been proven to lead to improved mood, focus, mental clarity, and is also a great form of exercise.
If you have younger kids, having a garden is also beneficial for helping them get outside, too! They are able to join you and learn more about nature as they explore creating a garden space with you.
As for how to make your garden more energy efficient, you can do this in a variety of ways. The first is to include vegetation you and your family can consume. Some of the easier vegetation to grow include carrots, lettuce, and various pea plants.
If you are looking for a more calming, Zen Garden for you to enjoy, you can have hardscape done in your backyard that is also energy efficient. You can use sustainable materials that help to reduce your carbon footprint, improve drainage of runoff, and still promote a natural-appearing environment. Some of the products you can use include permeable pavers, recycled material, and natural stone.
Having a hardscape design for your backyard also adds to the beauty and structural integrity of your outdoors. You can have a patio, deck or pavilion installed at your home. If you have hills in your yard, a retaining wall (or multiple) is also a good option. You can also create small garden waterfalls or ponds to maintain an ecosystem that smaller amphibians and animals can reside in.
Take a look at our recent blog post that shares about more upgrades for your garden.
Conclusion to Your Eco Friendly Change Ideas
Overall, being eco-friendly in your home is not as difficult as people make it. There are many options to choose from, whether it’s a simple renovation or just switching out your lightbulbs. When planning out your upcoming home remodel, be sure to connect with our team to figure out some of the best options to make your life more friendly for the environment and with your long-term budget.
Are you ready to get started? Reach out to our sales team by calling 717-665-0470 or by filling out the form using the link below. We look forward to helping you create a better lifestyle for you and your family.
