Get money back when you make your home more energy efficient!
What is GREEN?
There are many misconceptions about what ‘green’ is and how it pertains to your home. While there are green building products that are made using recycled and recyclable materials, green is so much more. The goal of green is to reduce our carbon footprint, use less energy and resources, and to produce less waste.
How can I make my home more GREEN?
You do not have to add solar panels and recycle your shower water to make your home more green. There are many small, affordable options that will help make your home more green and will put green back in your wallet as well.
- Reduce your energy costs
- Did you know that in most homes, up to 45% of their energy is lost through the attic? The simple solution; add more insulation. Many homes have only 3 or 4 inches of insulation in the attic. Increase this to 10 or 12 inches, and you can save about 20% on your energy bill.
- Change out your windows. If your home is more than 10 years old, check to see if you have insulated windows. Replacing your old windows with Low-E windows will decrease your energy loss by 50%! If you can’t afford to change out all of your windows, use cellular blinds. The cells trap air and prevent heat transfer which saves you money.
- Seal your exterior doorways. Make sure you have good weather stripping around your doorways. When your door is closed, there should be no areas around it where light passes through. If light can pass through, your heating or a/c is passing through as well.
- Replace your thermostat with a programmable thermostat. While you are away, the temperature inside your home will be allowed to rise or fall outside what you may find comfortable, but will return to your desired temperature when you are back. This can save you on average 8-10% on your energy bill.
- Conserve water.
- Buying some new shower heads can mean less water going down the drain. The average shower lasts 13 minutes. If you use a conventional shower head, you use 2.5 gallons per minute which rounds out to about 32.5 gallons per shower. A water-saving shower head using 1.6 gallons per minute cuts the waste by 36%.
- The average US toilet uses about 3.5 gallons per flush. Replace your toilet with one that uses 1.6 gallons per flush and you reduce the waste by 55%.
- Update your appliances.
- Throughout each home are a number of appliances that make up for a good bit of your power bill every month. Newer technology has allowed us appliances that use less energy while still performing at the level we expect. Look for the Energy Star rated appliances and see how much energy you can save by replacing your old ones.
- Change your light bulbs
- Did you know that you can replace a 60 watt incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent one and receive the same amount of light but use less than ¼ of the electricity and lasts up to 5 times as long?
These are just a few ways that you can step up and do your part for the environment. There are many other means by which you can make your home greener; such as installing a more efficient heating and cooling unit, using solar energy, collecting and reusing rainwater, and recycling your garbage.
What are some GREEN building products?
If you are considering having your home built or doing a major remodel in your home, there are a number of GREEN building products available. These are products that make little environmental impact through the production and installation process. They may be made of recycled material or have been developed to replace other products that release harmful vapors into the atmosphere.
Green Insulation: There several types of green insulation ranging from recycled denim to formaldehyde free fiberglass insulation. If you are doing a major remodel, you can have insulation sprayed into the cavities of your walls.
Green Wood: There are a number of businesses that sell reclaimed wood. This wood has been recovered from pre-existing structures prior to their destruction. The most common among these reclaimed wood materials are hardwood flooring and pine beams.
Green Paint: While the EPA has set new standards for paints, requiring they have either low or zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) rating, there are paint companies that have developed paints which uses plant based binders, pigments, and additives instead of petroleum based. This goes beyond the issue of human health and minimizes harmful waste.
Recycled Materials: From recycled sheetrock to recycled cement board, there are a number of building materials that are made from recycled products. As the nation continues to look toward a greener future, more materials will be made available.There are other materials that are considered green not because they were made from recycled material, but rather because they help you to reduce your energy usage or provide an alternate energy source. Such products include solar panels, tank-less water heaters, and water saving plumbing fixtures. If you are interested in going green, or would like more information on green building products, contact Mountain West Construction at 828-697-8894.
