You can have an eco-friendly house! While home building can be a particularly laborious process, it provides a great opportunity to outfit your new household with the latest materials and appliances. Eco-friendly products spearhead the latest line of contemporary home construction materials, and they’re growing in popularity due to their high quality, ability to reduce monthly electric bills, lower maintenance requirements, and long-term health benefits. Here are 6 guidelines to building an eco-friendly house.
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Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Instead of traditional air conditioning units, opt for a geothermal heating and cooling system. They’ve demonstrated a staggering efficiency rate of 400%—600%, and have been proven to reduce energy costs by up to 80%. These innovative technologies utilize the stable temperature of the ground to help cool/ heat a household via a piping system buried 10 feet beneath the Surface.
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Efficient Home Lighting
Light the way with compact fluorescent lamps and LED bulbs. Both produce less heat and demand less energy to function than their industry-standard counterparts. Additionally, their average lifespan is significantly longer. In fact, some LED bulbs can interact with smartphones and last up to 50,000 hours before needing a replacement.
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Low Flush Toilets
Another way to slightly reduce your water bill and create a more eco-friendly house involves the installation of low-flush toilets. The newer eco-friendly models generally are advertised as requiring 1.28 gallons per flush, effectively helping you save over 3,000 gallons of water a year per unit. Considering toilets reportedly account for 25% of a household’s water usage, this increased efficiency could help remove a lot of the trepidation that tends to precede opening monthly water / energy bills.
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Sustainable Floors and Countertops
There are a wide variety of sustainable and visually appealing materials that could constitute your house’s flooring and countertops. Bamboo can be very aesthetically pleasing beneath your feet, and recycled glass can serve as a striking kitchen Surface.
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Energy Efficient Water Heaters
Did you know that standard gas water heaters / electric water heaters are the cause for approximately 25% of your home’s energy demand. If you do the math, you’ll realize that’s a ton of energy – especially for an appliance that consumes both water and power. Conventional water heaters require a lot of energy because their tanks must maintain a constant temperature even when idle. To remove standby energy losses, consider investing in a solar water heater or a tankless water heater.
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Foam Insulation
One of the most important aspects of the home building process is the insulation stage, considering those materials help your living space maintain a regulated temperature. Spray foam insulation is making waves around the industry because it’s both environmentally friendly and has the ability to thoroughly cover and seal any designated area. With proper application, spray foam insulation can effectively and efficiently protect your interior from the outdoor elements.
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Planting Native Flora
Another source of daily water usage stems from garden maintenance. Do some research and only plant flora native to your specific environment. In doing so, the plants will readily grow without much needed attention due to their natural affinity to your region. If you’re a creative gardener / landscaper, coming up with an appealing assortment of vegetation could be a fun project.
In today’s modern world, an eco-friendly house is one of the hottest trends around. Outfitting your home with these eco-friendly appliances and materials can increase their efficiency, lower your monthly bill payments, and ultimately benefit Mother Earth.