Eco Friendly

Going Green for a More Eco Friendly Living

These days it seems fashionable to go green and live in an eco friendly way.  More and more people are opting for cleaner energy, eco friendly building materials, flooring and paints, less waste and energy efficient appliances. The award winning documentary film of Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth stirred up more of a green movement than any published scientific studies of the past.

Whether people support the global warming theory or not, one thing one cannot dispute is the savings, both for the environment and your finances.  Because of this money-saving eco friendly ways, people are willing to practice simple, green improvements in their homes.  Not only will this be beneficial for you but will also make for a more attractive resale value whenever you opt to sell in the future; more people prefer homes that are eco friendly ready.

Perhaps the easiest way to begin saving energy is to replace old light bulbs with energy efficient ones. Newer compact fluorescent bulbs, which are eco friendly are available in assorted sizes and can last longer than regular light bulbs. New compact fluorescent bulbs use 80% less energy that an older bulb. You can also opt to install timers on the outside lights.

One can put in low flush toilets to improve water consumption.  Also, one can attach aerators to their faucets or just buy new ones that have aerators already installed. Aerators mix air with water flow, which then creates good water pressure with less water.  For shower heads, one can replace it with low flow heads for a more eco friendly water usage.

A typical water heater will constantly run to keep water hot all the time, thus making this appliance costly to operate. You can improve the heating efficiency by wrapping the pipes or adding insulation. You can also install newer models that heat water on demand and not constantly. Also, tank-less models work well and can save up half of what older models would cost to run. Solar powered water heaters are also increasing its popularity as the ultimate eco friendly, energy efficient heating system.

The appliances in the kitchen as well as washer and dryer are major areas where one can go green while saving money. Replace some of the kitchen appliances with eco friendly, Energy Star rated appliances. Remember that for perks like automatic ice maker or auto-defrost system, a refrigerator becomes less efficient, energy-wise. This is important because in an average home, a refrigerator utilizes the most electricity. Washer and dryer models that hold bigger loads while using less water and energy are now available.

Outdated cooling and heating systems should be replaced with eco friendly, energy efficient ones. Insulation is also critical to saving energy; don't be fooled by heavier and thicker insulation, thinking that it's better. Also, install water proof barrier to protect from moisture, when insulation gets wet, it reduces its performance.  By adding simple, eco friendly green touches to your home, your finances will improve as well as Mother Nature's status.

If you are interested in Eco Friendly Real Estate contact us for more information.