Eco-friendly homes are becoming popular among homeowners around the globe. They keep the environment happy and healthy. But above all, they reduce the energy bills by a significant margin. For homeowners in Pennsylvania, where utilities are 8% higher than the national average, this really means something. Hence, people are switching to sustainable materials like bamboo, cork, and solar roof tiles to make their homes more eco-friendly.

The best part is that adopting eco-friendliness doesn’t require you to compromise on your home’s aesthetics. You don’t even have to worry about overspending.

So, what are some excellent eco-friendly changes you can make to your homes?

Stay with us as we shed more light on the topic.

Invest in Low-Energy Lights:

Energy-efficient lighting solutions have been around for a long time. People barely paid attention. Everyone liked the fancier fixtures and bulbs. Those times are over now. People are switching to LEDs, and they’re doing it happily. And why not? It helps them cut down on running expenses. 

While there are several options for energy-saving light bulbs, LEDs are currently the most efficient option available. LEDs are noted for delivering dazzling lighting while using 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. 

Install Solar Panels:

Solar panels are a great option if you want to reduce your home energy consumption. It’s an easy way to make your home more eco-friendly, and you may reduce your carbon footprint by over two tons annually and contribute to renewable energy goals by installing solar panels.

If you plan to live in Pennsylvania, you might be interested in getting solar roofing. According to studies, more than 124,200 houses here use solar roofing options. To install solar panels, you can contact experts such as Resnick Roofing. They offer many services like roof repairing, gutter installation, replacement, side repair, and solar panel installation. Since solar panels are highly efficient in producing energy, you can save a lot of money with this option.

Maintain House Insulation.

Do you know one of the reasons your energy bills are so high could be because of faulty insulation? It’s true. Poor insulation will make your cooling and heating systems work harder, leading to higher bills. So, it’s best to give yours a do-over. 

Proper insulation will keep warm air inside during winter and maintain your house’s temperature during the summer. You’ll also notice a change in your energy bills – they’ll reduce by over 40%.

The house’s framework, including its walls and roof, is an excellent place to begin. Windows should also be considered. Sheep’s wool, aerogel, denim, cork, polystyrene, and cellulose are some of the most eco-friendly and long-lasting materials for house insulation. 

Think Green when Cleaning:

Each of us has a go-to laundry detergent or bathroom cleaner that we’ve used for years without paying attention to the potential damage it’s doing to the environment. After being flushed down the drain, they wind up in the water supply, and it can take a lot more time and work at the treatment plant to make it clean again.

You may change things up in a simple way. Bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice, or vinegar may be used instead of bleach and detergents to kill germs and leave your home clean and fragrant. Another environmentally friendly option for keeping houses tidy is using steam cleaners to disinfect and eliminate germs.

Double-glaze Your Windows:

The days of ugly double glazing are over, so there’s no longer any excuse not to have all of your home’s windows glazed. The long-term financial benefits include lower energy bills and better house insulation. Double-glazed windows decrease noise and heat loss. They’re efficient in cold weather and air conditioning. Their usefulness depends on their place, the windows and frames used, and the environment.

Double glazing consists of two glass panels with an air or gas gap between them for thermal insulation. This protects you from the cold and allows you to use less heating, which saves money and is better for the environment. Double-paned windows may cut Carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 680 kg annually.

Buy Recycled Furniture:

Buying recycled or up-cycled furniture is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint by ensuring fewer resources are used to produce new furniture, and fewer items end up in landfills. It is also often cheaper than buying new furniture, so it’s a win-win situation. Check out local second-hand stores or online marketplaces to find recycled furniture in your area. You can even look for up-cycled pieces, such as coffee tables or chairs made from old wine barrels.

However, if you need new furniture to meet your needs, choose pieces made from eco-friendly materials such as bamboo or sustainably harvested wood.

Compost Food Waste:

Compost every scrap of food, including leftover food. Compost bins may be purchased cheaply at many home improvement stores, and some garbage collection companies even provide them at no cost to their customers. Put any old or stale food in there and forget about it. In time, it will decompose into garden-friendly compost..

The compost pile has to be kept damp. Please give it some water now and again, or wait for it to rain. Cover it using any materials available, such as pieces of carpet, wood, or plastic. Turn the compost pile after every week or two to accelerate decomposition. 

Maintaining Your Boiler at Times:

Newer boilers are far more efficient in both producing heat and conserving energy. They, however, need regular maintenance to ensure their proper functioning. Even if your boiler is decades old, it may still serve you well with proper care and operation. Even so, it would be best to consider getting a new boiler after around ten years.

Be aware of your thermostat’s setting and try to lower it by a few degrees to save money and guarantee optimal performance. The cost of your monthly energy bills might be drastically altered by even a single degree.

Conclusion:

Eco-friendliness is an increasingly important and necessary lifestyle for us to adopt now more than ever. Simple steps can make a big difference, from reducing electricity consumption with light bulbs to upcycling furniture or other home decor.

We should remember that we can reduce our environmental impact without sacrificing the comfort of our homes, and each one of us has the power to contribute towards it. Despite the hard work ahead of us in making our homes more eco-friendly, these simple actions can push us further toward building a sustainable future that we can all be proud of.