How to Be a More Environmentally Conscious Homeowner

As the need for clean energy to power lifestyles increases, so does awareness of the environment. While designing and building a home that will benefit you and all your needs, here are a few easy ways to make that home an environmentally-conscious one that will also benefit the space around it.

Build Your Home Responsibly

Use sustainable materials for your home that do the same job as nonrenewable resources, without the carbon footprint. Recycled natural materials like steel, wood and concrete are effective and versatile substances for home-building. Bamboo is another eco-friendly material that is becoming more and more popular for its strength and quick growth rate, making it easily accessible and perfect for visible or non-visible structures. Talk with your contractor about that and other natural resources available, as they may vary depending on location and regulation rules for your area. From straw to synthetics, construction is taking advantage of innovative ways to use clean, sustainable materials that won’t harm the environment.

Think About Renewable Energy

Get your home running on renewable energy! Your access to the sun is free; solar panels and solar heating decrease energy costs significantly and are an increasingly common installation in homes. This is an appealing option for many, especially with the solar tax credit promising to offset the cost of installation. (Take advantage of this option soon! Solar tax credits will begin to expire in 2022.) Again depending on your location, the natural resources near your home may be a great element to use, like windmills or hydropower turbines that feed your local energy supply.  

Utilize Insulation

The less you have to turn on your heat, the less energy your home will exert in maintaining that temperature (and the lower your heating bill will be!) Insulation traps heat, meaning your home does not have to work as hard to reheat constantly. It can be installed in the walls and ceilings of your home—plus, decorative additions like rugs on the floor and curtains on the windows can insulate while adding to the room’s overall appearance. While insulation may add a little to the upfront cost of building your home, the money it will save by lowering your energy usage will more than make up the investment.

Your home should be one you feel confident in and comfortable with. Implementing these strategies will ensure that you are positively contributing to a healthy environment, in and out of your own walls.

Ready to build your own perfect home? We can help!