How You Can Improve Your Home While Going Green

Going green is more important than ever, and it seems like everyone wants to get in on the trend. Whatever the reasons, going green can sometimes be expensive. However, this process often involves home improvements that can raise your property value. With that in mind, let's examine a few ways that you can increase the value of your home and make it more environmentally friendly at the same time.

Buy Energy-Saving Appliances

You have almost certainly noticed the "energy star" logo on certain appliances. Although it might seem like decoration or promo, this logo actually makes a big difference. Appliances with this sticker are made to use electricity more efficiently, and that translates to a lower electric bill. Products are not allowed to carry this sticker unless they have been tested for maximum efficiency. Rather than being some corporate initiative, Energy Star is a government program that is designed to reduce overall electricity consumption in the home. There is no doubt that large appliances are the number one power drainers in the modern home. If we look at a list of the biggest power consumers, we can see that heating and cooling systems are at the top of the list. After that, most of the top spots are held by large appliances like dryers and water heaters.

Install Solar Panels

Solar panels are probably the best way to power your home without using the standard electrical grid. They have gotten increasingly cheaper in recent years. If you want to get the most out of your solar panels, you will need to buy a battery bank to store extra power. Otherwise, you will only have electricity while the sun is shining. You will need 12V deep-cycle batteries, as normal 12V batteries are not meant for this kind of thing. We recommend at least five batteries, but ten-twelve would be ideal. You will also need a charge controller to keep the batteries from being overcharged, which could lead to an explosion. Research solar panel installation in San Jose or your particular area in order to find the best fit for your home.

Replace Your Windows

This one is an obvious step when you are trying to make your home more energy-efficient. We have already mentioned the fact that heating and cooling are your biggest energy hogs. This is partly because windows, doors, and other points of entry will invariably have gaps. This allows warm or cool air to escape, causing the heater/AC to work harder in replacing that lost air. This loss can increase your electric bill by 25% or more. We would recommend using windows that are double or triple-paned. These will minimize the loss of heated/cooled air and lead to a more comfortable home at the same time. They also need to be well-sealed around the edges, as this is often a vector for money loss.

Start Collecting Rainwater

Having discussed the problem of electricity consumption, we should also talk about ways to lower your water bill. In many cases, rainwater harvesting can make you completely independent in this regard. You won't have to worry about lowering your water bill because there won't be one! Of course, there are some things to learn before you proceed.

You will have to invest in a large holding tank, and it needs to be suitable for drinking water. We would recommend some of the large plastic tanks that are used for livestock, as these are made of food-grade plastic and can be sealed fully against outside contamination. All your pipes need to be made of PVC for maximum longevity, and there will need to be filters and traps where any debris can be removed before it reaches the main holding tank. You will also need to purify the water before it is used. Regular household bleach can be used to sterilize water and make it safe (use eight drops per gallon). Charcoal-based filtration systems are also a great way to keep your water free from odors and tasting fresh. If this seems unsustainable, you should know that charcoal is very easy to make from scrap wood.

Most of the green improvements that you can do on your home will have an added benefit. When you eventually sell your home, you can use all of those green improvements as selling points. This will appeal to buyers on both an emotional and a practical level, which means you can raise your asking price. If you have found this article to be helpful, please come back again.