If you’ve been thinking about conserving energy and upgrading your home to be more eco-friendly, then you’re in the right place. We’ve got the tips you’re looking for—read on for the best green home improvement upgrades:
Consider financing
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your home for a while but have been waiting to save the money, you may not have to. Have you heard about options like PACE financing? If you’re asking yourself, “What is PACE?” the answer is that it’s financing geared towards homeowners who want to improve their home’s energy efficiency and help the planet. So if you’ve been wanting to update your home, PACE financing may be the ideal option for you.
Look at your doors
Did you know that you can save energy by changing your doors? Whether you live in a cold climate or a hot one, you may want to consider using fibreglass doors instead of the traditional wood ones. These types of doors help to keep the cold and heat inside, so you save energy on cooling or heating your home. With fibreglass doors, you could be saving more money on your monthly utility bill as well.
Use skylights
Skylights that can open allow more fresh air to flow through your house, which can be helpful for saving energy on fans and cooling systems. Also, they allow more light in, so you don’t have to depend on indoor lighting throughout the day. Besides the energy-saving benefits, they also look beautiful in any home, which can help to increase your home’s resale value.
While you’ll need to hire a professional contractor to install the skylights, it can be a worthwhile investment. Plus, if you’re already planning to update your living room, consider adding skylights to this area of your home.
Consider solar power energy
Solar power energy is the way to go if you want to really make an impact on reducing your carbon footprint. It can both help you save money on your electricity bill while also increasing your home’s resale value.
It’s clean energy that isn’t hurting the planet and also doesn’t need high levels of water to operate. Simply put, it’s one of the best ways to upgrade your home with green improvements. While the initial investment of hiring a solar panel company can seem like a lot, the money it can save you often makes the investment more than worth it.
Keep in mind that in some locations, like wooded areas, solar power may not be the best option for you. If you don’t get a lot of sunlight on your home, there are other ways you can save energy, whether through updating your doors or installing skylights.
Check out wood flooring alternatives
If you love the look of wood floors but are hoping to find a better alternative, consider different materials that are eco-friendly but look as great as the hardwood floors you know and love. For example, Brazilian cherry wood is designed from legumes. This means that you’re saving actual cherry trees and using a material that can last for much longer than the traditional oak wood flooring.
Some people believe carpeting is better for the environment than wood floors. However, this is not always the case. A lot of materials used in the production and installation of carpeting, such as glues and other chemicals, can prove harmful to the environment as well. Consider this when choosing between hardwood floors and carpeting.
In Conclusion
Upgrading your home for sustainability is always a good idea. If you are looking for financing, consider the options available for homeowners who are looking to do green upgrades in their homes. This way, you get to update your home, increase its value, while also doing your part for our planet.
