4 Ideas For Green Home Upgrades
December 6, 2009 |
Gadget
Green is the word for homes as we head into the second decade of the 21st century.
Energy efficiency isn’t only good for the environment, but it’s economically feasible as well in the long run. Up front, some of the changes you might want to make can seem costly, but the benefits later on will help overcome most of those issues. You may even save some money with a tax credit on green upgrades.
Below are four tips that will not only help your house become more green, but they might actually help you save some money on the way.
1. Solar panels are the way to go overall, but they can be expensive. Have you ever thought about buying used solar panels?
Almost no one gets rid of solar panels because they stop working. In most instances, people
upgrade to newer panels to increase on the savings they’re
already experiencing. If you’re just starting out, you could probably find some great deals that could save you as much as half of the costs of installing new equipment.
2.
Change your windows to at least double panes. This adds insulation to the home, helping it stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, as it reduces places air can either escape or get in. Make sure that whoever
installs your window’s – seals them on both the inside and outside; sometimes installers try to cut corners, but that will cost you later on.
3. Add skylights. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but if you live in a sunny area it brings in a lot of natural light during the day, which means you won’t need to turn on the lights. Plus, skylights can help heat the house during the day. It’s the same as a car; if you sit your car in the sun on winter days, it will usually be warmer on the inside. You’ll want to make sure to install a cover so that you can shut the space down overnight.
4. Change how you heat your water. The first thing you can do is change your water heater so you can program it to go on and off at different times of the day, instead of running all the time. The second thing you can do is add a direct water heating system, which heats the water only at the points when you request hot water, this typically takes the same amount of time to heat water as when you let the water run to get hotter.
Green is the word for homes as we head into the second decade of the 21st century. Energy efficiency isn’t only good for the environment, but it’s economically feasible as well in the long run. Up front, some of the changes you might want to make can seem costly, but the benefits later on will help overcome most of those issues. You may even save some money with a tax credit on green upgrades.
Below are four tips that will not only help your house become more green, but they might actually help you save some money on the way.
1. Solar panels are the way to go overall, but they can be expensive. Have you ever thought about buying used solar panels? Almost no one gets rid of solar panels because they stop working. In most instances, people upgrade to newer panels to increase on the savings they’re already experiencing. If you’re just starting out, you could probably find some great deals that could save you as much as half of the costs of installing new equipment.
2. Change your windows to at least double panes. This adds insulation to the home, helping it stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, as it reduces places air can either escape or get in. Make sure that whoever installs your window’s – seals them on both the inside and outside; sometimes installers try to cut corners, but that will cost you later on.
3. Add skylights. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but if you live in a sunny area it brings in a lot of natural light during the day, which means you won’t need to turn on the lights. Plus, skylights can help heat the house during the day. It’s the same as a car; if you sit your car in the sun on winter days, it will usually be warmer on the inside. You’ll want to make sure to install a cover so that you can shut the space down overnight.
4. Change how you heat your water. The first thing you can do is change your water heater so you can program it to go on and off at different times of the day, instead of running all the time. The second thing you can do is add a direct water heating system, which heats the water only at the points when you request hot water, this typically takes the same amount of time to heat water as when you let the water run to get hotter.
Related posts:
- Five Tips for Going Green
- 3 Quick Ideas To Improve Your Home
- Can Green Energy Like Water Be Used to Power a Car?
- Inhabitat’s Week in Green: lenses that magnify wind, spider silk bacteria, and the largest solar sports facility
- My Experience With the Sonos Home Audio System
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