The earth is witnessing harmful effects of global warming and climate change, and hence, the need for sustainable living is increasing more than ever. Similarly, the San Bernardino County Community Development & Housing Department has urged residents to adopt sustainable living where societal development compliments natural resources. Unlike traditional living, which maximizes waste and requires resources in excess, sustainable living reduces a homeowner’s carbon footprint and utilizes resources efficiently to maximize energy output.
What’s more, is the saving on energy bills due to decreased electricity usage and added comfort from eco-friendly home renovations and sleek home improvement gadgets. Adopting sustainable living shall benefit you when selling your home in San Bernardino, as 9 out of 10 American homebuyers prefer a home with pre-installed energy-efficient features that lower energy costs.
If you wish to enter the realm of sustainable living or need eco-friendly home improvement ideas to make your abode greener, here are a few recommendations that can help:
Install Energy-Efficient Windows
Surprisingly, your home’s windows significantly contribute to increased energy bills and carbon emissions. Heat gain and loss through windows is responsible for 25-30% of heating and cooling expenses in the average American household. To tackle the heating and cooling issue, install eco-friendly fiberglass windows in your home that provide better insulation and contribute to lower energy bills.
Switching single-pane windows with double-pane or even triple-pane windows further reduces heat transfer and improves insulation. Sustainable living involves making conscious choices, including home improvements. Hiring a reliable San Bernardino window replacement company can help you achieve sustainability and energy efficiency when upgrading your windows.
Where you place these high-performance windows in your home matters equally as much in promoting green living. Strategic window and skylight placements capture sunlight better, enhancing the illumination in your home during the day. With the sun’s rays replacing light bulbs in the daytime, you’ll enjoy lower electricity bills and a reduced carbon footprint.
Build An Eco-Friendly Foundation
Pay attention to your home’s foundation and façade to improve its sustainability. Where building materials are concerned, lighter-colored bricks and reflective roofs help deflect sunlight, reduce heat absorption, and keep the interior temperature low.
Sourcing building materials from demolished homes to reuse in your home improvement projects is a cheaper and environmentally friendlier alternative to buying new raw materials. For optimal construction, consider where wind and sunlight naturally hit the house. Remodeling the home to enhance sunlight and wind exposure can help reduce illumination and ventilation costs.
A further construction enhancement is reducing the size of your home. You may be unwilling to do so due to fear of insufficient space but know that a smaller home requires fewer resources to run on. Decreased electricity, ventilation, heating, and water requirements mean a lighter wallet and diminished harmful emissions.
Improve Air Quality
Often neglected by homeowners, the quality of air in your residence can make or break its atmosphere. Where air quality is concerned, thorough ventilation is key. A well-ventilated home means that air is optimally moving to and from it. If you wish to implement a sustainable ventilation system in your home, use windows, ventilation appliances, and mechanical fans. Opening windows is a quick fix to bring fresh air in, but it may not fulfill long-term ventilation needs.
An HVAC system or air purifying system filters the airflow to provide safe-to-breathe air, removing any harmful toxins or allergens present in it, making it a great home investment. Adding exhaust fans to bathrooms can improve home air quality while keeping them odorless and moisture-free to prevent mold and mildew buildup. Lastly, keep an eye out for contaminants and volatile compounds that may pollute your abode’s air quality. Everyday items such as paints, aerosol sprays, and cleaning products can contain toxic chemicals that negatively impact indoor air quality. Therefore, rid your home of hazardous products and opt for toxin-free items.
Equip the House with Smart Products
Given the increased demand for eco-friendly home features, many smart devices and appliances have been introduced in the markets. Vouching for greater energy conservation, user-friendliness, and alleviated home interface, smart lighting systems, thermostats, electric skylight blinds, and controllers have taken sustainable living to another level.
Unlike their manual counterparts, smart devices allow optimal energy usage and adjust to user commands for heating, cooling, and lighting in line with user habits. With smart devices installed in the home, you need not worry about switching off thermostats and lights before leaving or switching them on upon arrival. Furthermore, smart devices offer impeccable returns on investment, with 81% of homeowners who have previously used them are likely to buy a home with smart technology pre-installed. For all these reasons, equip your home with the latest smart products and enjoy effortless energy management.
Promote Water Conservation
You can’t let water conservation escape your mind when promoting sustainable living in your home. Water, a scarce yet essential resource, must be saved for future generations, and initiating its conservation from your home is the best place to start. Here are a few methods and devices you can use to reduce water consumption and wastage in your abode:
Set up a Rainwater Recycling System- Rainwater is a natural source of water that can be conserved by setting up a rainwater harvesting system on your roof. As rainwater falls, it collects in the system and can be stored for future use in household work. Whether it’s watering plants, flushing toilets, or filling washing machines, recycled water can be utilized in the home.
Switch Your Toilet And Shower Fixtures- Keeping eco-friendliness at the forefront; new bathroom fixtures have entered markets, including low-flush toilets and showerheads. These fixtures minimize water usage without compromising water pressure.
Conclusion
The time is now to embrace sustainable living and part ways with old, wasteful living habits. By considering the home improvement ideas stated above and making energy-efficient choices during home construction or remodeling, San Bernardino homeowners can attain significant energy savings while being environmentally conscious. A sustainable and energy-efficient home can be created by adopting a holistic approach that combines smart design, eco-friendly materials, and seamless technology!
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.