{"id":5780,"date":"2023-02-21T07:34:58","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T14:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/?p=5780"},"modified":"2023-02-22T15:47:45","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T22:47:45","slug":"5-eco-friendly-home-improvements-for-a-greener-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/5-eco-friendly-home-improvements-for-a-greener-home","title":{"rendered":"5 Eco-Friendly Home Improvements for a Greener Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Feeling guilty about your\ncarbon footprint? Not sure what to do about it? Fear not! We\u2019ve rounded up five\neco-friendly home improvements that are good for the environment and your\nwallet.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get green! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How is\na Green Home Beneficial to Homeowners?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most obvious\nbenefits of building or renovating your home with green materials is lower\nutility bills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By investing in\nenergy-efficient appliances and technologies like solar panels, you can save\nmoney by reducing your energy usage. Plus, many local governments offer tax\ncredits for switching to green home improvements, so you can get even more bang\nfor your buck! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And let\u2019s face it\u2014your home is\nan investment, too! A study conducted by the National Association of\nRealtors<\/a> found\nthat homes with eco-friendly features had higher sale prices than comparable\nhomes without them. If you plan on selling your house in the near future, going\ngreen could mean gaining more than just bragging rights; it could also put some\nextra green in your pocket!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making sustainable improvements\nto your home, such as using low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint or\ninstalling an air purification system, can help create a healthier living\nenvironment for you and your family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain \u201cgreen\u201d products are\nbetter for indoor air quality because they don\u2019t contain toxic chemicals, which\ncan be harmful if inhaled over long periods of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\nAre Some Green Home Incentives That Are Being Offered to Homeowners?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most popular ways\nhomeowners can save money when going green is through tax credits and rebates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States Department of\nEnergy offers a federal tax credit program<\/a> for those who install alternative energy\nsystems in their homes such as solar panels or wind turbines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many states offer additional green home modification\nincentives<\/a>, such\nas rebates for installing energy-efficient windows or insulation. It\u2019s\nimportant to check with your local government or utility provider for any\nadditional incentives that may be available in your area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another way you can save money\nwhen going green is by purchasing energy-efficient appliances. Many stores\noffer discounts on energy-efficient products such as refrigerators, washing machines,\nand dishwashers. Plus, some utility providers offer discounts on certain\nappliances if they meet certain efficiency standards. Many states also have\nappliance rebate programs that give homeowners cash back when they purchase an\nenergy-efficient appliance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Home\nImprovements You Can Make for an Eco-Friendly Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Feeling inspired to upgrade\nyour home? Here are some energy-efficient swaps you can make to help save the\nplanet – all from the comfort of your own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.\nCheck Your Insulation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to making your home eco-friendlier, one of the first tasks you should\nundertake is to check your insulation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proper insulation can address\nenergy efficiency issues that create an increased need for heating and cooling,\nwhich leads to unnecessary expenditure of energy resources. To check your\ninsulation, have a professional come in and inspect every room<\/a> for any holes, drafts, or other airflow\nissues that are letting heat and cool air slip out of your home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the insulation needs to be\nreplaced or added to, doing so will not only maximize the energy efficiency of\nyour home but also apply a layer of protection from outside environmental\nfactors like noise and dust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.\nUpgrade Your Lighting <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By upgrading your home lighting\nto more eco-friendly options, you can take a significant step forward in\nreducing environmental impact and helping to create a greener lifestyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is it rewarding to\nhave improved your own use of resources, but also consider how much cleaner the\nair will be after climate-destroying carbon emissions are reduced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can get started on this\nproject by conducting some basic research into energy-efficient light bulbs and\nfixtures that suit your needs. Generally speaking, these bulbs consume less\nenergy and last longer, so you’ll be saving money in the long run too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installing the fixtures might\nrequire some help from an experienced electrician if you’re not confident\nenough to do it yourself, but a qualified professional can ensure everything is\nset up correctly and safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.\nInvest in Solar Panels  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Investing in solar panels is an\nexcellent way to make your home eco-friendlier while also saving money on\nenergy bills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solar panels are a great source\nof renewable energy, providing clean and renewable electricity by converting\nthe sun’s radiant energy into usable electricity for residential homes. Not\nonly do they reduce your reliance on non-renewable sources of energy, but they\nalso reduce your costs over time as solar panels are able to store and use\ntheir own energy rather than relying on traditional power grids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ins and outs of investing\nin solar panels may be daunting at first but having an experienced installer to\nassist with the installation isn’t difficult. Many government incentives are\navailable that can help offset costs, making it a win-win investment for people\nwho care both about environmental sustainability and budget management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.\nSwitch to Energy-Efficient Appliances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking to make your home more environmentally friendly, you should consider switching to\nenergy-efficient appliances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These appliances can help\nreduce energy costs and reduce energy waste in the home, cutting down on our\ndependence on non-renewable resources. By making the shift to these more\nefficient models, you could be helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions and\nsignificantly reduce your carbon footprint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The great news is that there\nare tons of energy-efficient options available across several household\nappliance categories, and they come in various styles and sizes so you\u2019re sure\nto find the perfect ones for your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, many energy companies\noffer financial incentives and tax credits for selecting these models over\nstandard ones – so it makes sense to take advantage of these benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Get\na Programmable Thermostat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Installing a programmable\nthermostat in your home is an easy and efficient way to become more\neco-friendly. This type of thermostat allows you to preset temperatures so that\nyou are only heating or cooling when you need it, avoiding wasted energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, you can turn off the AC\nor heating when everyone leaves for work\/school so that there is no risk of\novercooling or overheating. Programmable thermostats typically allow you to set\ntimers for different points during the week with different temperatures –\nperfect for those who want their house warm and cozy when they arrive home from\nwork! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final\nThoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Doing small things like these\ncan make a big difference when it comes to reducing our environmental impact. Plus,\nwho doesn’t love saving money? So don’t wait any longer; start making\nimprovements today so that you can be proud of living in a greener home\ntomorrow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
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About the Author:<\/strong> Jason Thomas is a native Texan, and Co-Founder and Partner at Vault Electricity <\/a>, a Texas electricity brokerage firm. Founded in 2009, Vault Electricity helps homeowners and businesses find the best deal on electricity by comparing electricity rates from the most trusted electricity brands in Texas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Feeling guilty about your carbon footprint? Not sure what to do about it? Fear not! We\u2019ve rounded up five eco-friendly home improvements that are good for the environment and your wallet.  Let\u2019s get green!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[774,4530,782,419],"tags":[1153,2100,59],"yst_prominent_words":[3963,7106,2159,2001,1869,1214,1871,2169,1623,7104,546,7109,1120,7108,7110,2137,7105,1998,2157,7107],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5780"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5780"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5798,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5780\/revisions\/5798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5780"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=5780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}