Eco-friendly means that something is good for the environment by conserving energy, water, and other natural resources. Many small upgrades and renovations we do at home can be eco-friendly at the same time as improving value. Any home project that significantly cuts your utility bills by saving electricity, heating, or water fits into the eco-friendly category. Eco-friendly home improvements also include installing anything that generates renewable power onsite like solar panels. Moreover, projects that only use upcycled, non-toxic or sustainably sourced materials are eco-friendly too.
Key Eco-Friendly Home Improvements
Solar Power Systems
Putting a solar energy system on your roof is one of the best eco-friendly home upgrades you can make. Residential solar panels collect the sun’s renewable energy and convert it into electricity to power your appliances and lights. A rooftop solar array provides free self-generated electricity from the sun once installed – for at least 25 years. According to the good folk at Vivint Solar, this electricity offsets the non-renewable utilities from the electric grid you would otherwise be using. Solar energy systems do not cause any carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Having this upgrade can boost a home’s resale value significantly.
Energy Efficient Windows
Replacing old inefficient windows with new double or triple-glazed energy efficient models can make an enormous difference for any home. It enhances sustainability while also saving on expensive heating and cooling costs. New advanced window coatings together with inert gas filled glazing minimizes heat transfer through the windows in both summer and winter. This keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Energy efficient windows not only save money but are eco-friendly over the long term.
Eco-Smart Water Conservation
There are many small ways to make your home eco-friendlier related to water conservation, like low-flow faucet aerators and water-efficient toilets, showers, and washing machines. Collecting rain in barrels for garden use is another easy project. Hot water heat pumps provide on demand hot water with no need of a storage tank that wastes energy 24/7 heating water you are not using.
Sustainable and Non-Toxic Construction Materials
Choosing sustainable wood, recycled metal and plastic building materials made from consumer waste for any home renovations or furniture making is very eco-friendly. There are great new alternatives too, like cork or bamboo wood floors and tiles. Any paints or finishes used inside homes should ideally be zero or low VOC (volatile organic compounds) to maintain good indoor air quality during and after construction projects.
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Home Improvements
It feels great to be doing your part for environmental protection through upgrades like renewable solar power or water conservation. Wise homeowners also know eco-friendly renovation projects often raise the long-term real estate value considerably. Increasingly, home buyers want and expect houses, especially newer ones, to have sustainable energy-saving amenities included such as good insulation, solar panels, and water conservation fixtures. Some green home upgrades like landscaping for native drought-resistant plants or installing EV electric vehicle chargers also appeal to most potential buyers focused on sustainability. Homes incorporating eco-friendly features usually sell faster and for higher prices than less efficient houses.
Conclusion
While upfront costs can sometimes be high for upgrades like a solar array, any eco-friendly home projects end up paying dividends in the long run through energy and resource cost savings. Utility bills simply get lower over time thanks to equipment like energy efficient heat pumps or solar power systems with minimal annual maintenance costs. And anything increasing a home’s future resale value or rent potential by cutting energy bills is an excellent return on your investment both environmentally and economically.
