The way you manage your home can be taxing on the environment. Changing daily habits to create a cleaner, greener home doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple ways to green your home and become more water and energy efficient.
Eco-Friendly Bathroom
Your bathroom is guilty of using up a lot of water and energy. You can quickly reduce this by examining your current appliances and researching green alternatives. A lot of water gets used (or goes to waste) while showering, so considering upgrading to an eco-friendly showerhead, like a WaterSense model. Choosing water-efficient products, specifically WaterSense showerheads, contributes to an estimated savings of 2,700 gallons of water per year.
Home Automation
Many people have this idea that integrating green technology throughout your home is extremely costly and challenging. While that might be true for some projects, there are ways to include home automation systems that help green your home and make your everyday routine a bit easier.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could start, stop and pause your shower with your voice? The future is here, people. Some smart shower systems allow you to control the amount of water used while showering by voice activation technology.
You can also save on energy and money by connecting systems (like this one here) to your smartphone which allows you to use apps to control and set the temperature in your shower. Going green really is as easy as the click of a button or the sound of your voice.
Renovate
Many homeowners are taking on renovation projects instead of selling their homes. Remodeling is a great opportunity to customize your current living situation to make it better for your lifestyle and better for the planet. A major home renovation project–like a kitchen remodel–requires more than your DIY skills. Homeowners become flooded with design choices before considering main remodeling factors like layout and plumbing configurations.
Plumbing is a huge part of any renovation, so before you easily get lost in choosing between open-shelving vs. upper cabinets, take some time to find a reliable plumber near you. A quick search online for plumbers near me will help to connect you with local plumbing companies that can assist with your remodel.
Look for individuals with experience in eco-friendly remodeling. They can provide insights on ways to create a kitchen that promotes long-term energy savings.
Once you’ve planned out the large-scale factors of your renovation, like plumbing, you can start picking out the “fun stuff” like countertops and appliances. Opt for eco-friendly kitchen appliances to help improve your home’s carbon footprint and make it more desirable down the road if you decide to put it on the market.
Regular Home Maintenance
Sometimes being more water-efficient at home is as simple as sticking to a regular maintenance routine. Checking for leaks should be high on your to-do list, especially since the smallest leaks can lead to a lot of wasted water. You should check toilets, faucets, showerheads, and any other leaking valve in your home. Spring is a great time to perform these maintenance projects, especially in colder climates where your pipes have greater potential to freeze.
Green Gardening
Provide plants with water only when they really need it by investing in a weather-based irrigation controller. Installing a system like this not only saves water but also takes the guess-work out of determining how much and how often you actually need to water your garden.
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