4 Incredibly Simple Ways to Transform Your Home into a Green Machine

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What exactly does it mean to have a “green” home these days? There aren’t any hard and fast rules or standards that would define whether your home is green or not. However, there are several common characteristics that you’ll typically find in modern-day green homes, including but not limited to:

-          conservation of natural resources

-          efficient use of energy

-          minimization of waste

-          cleaner, better air quality

It’s pretty obvious that green homes have many benefits. Living a green lifestyle in your home knocks out several birds with one stone – you’ll save money, live better and help preserve our precious natural environment.

So how might one go about transforming their home into a modern “green home”?

1. Reduce energy consumption and consider renewable energy

Make sure your home is more energy-efficient by doing simple things like sealing and insulating outer walls, windows, doors, ceilings and floors.  Little spaces and cracks may be letting in or out too much air, causing your cooling and heating systems to work overtime, which causes your wallet to get a lot lighter, a lot faster.

Aside from that, it also doesn’t hurt have a certified green HVAC technician come out and make sure that your cooling and heating systems are clean and functioning properly.

Even better, you can up the ante by switching to a renewable energy source such as solar panels, ground source heat pumps or take it old school and crack open the windows for fresh, cool air during appropriate seasons.

Also, when making a decision to purchase new systems, look for Energy Star appliances.  These are appliances approved by the EPA and are guaranteed to significantly cut your electricity consumption while also lightning the load on your conscious and giving Mother Nature a much-needed break.

2. Reduce water use at home.

Water is another natural resource that we take for granted every single day. Most people don’t realize that clean water running through our taps is a rare privilege on a global level. There are a few easy actions you can take to help conserve water in and around your home.

For example, you might consider replacing toilets that are more than 20 years old with modern ones that use significantly less water per flush, with the same desired result.  Or you might even use Watersense products for that matter. If you want to go extreme green and show the world you care, there’s also the option of installing a composting toilet that uses very little to no water at all.

Don’t forget about water-efficient aerators, faucets and showerheads that can also help you save on the H2O.

Many innovators in the green sector have set up systems on their property to capture fresh rainwater for your daily consumption needs. It might shock you to know this is easier to do than you think. On that note, there are also simple ways to redirect storm water to your garden for a homemade irrigation system that will also cut down on your water consumption.

3. Choose more eco-friendly building materials and home products

When renovating or building your home, using recycled and refurbished materials not only will save you money, but also show your green initiative. For example, you can obtain hardwood from demolished buildings that will cut your costs as well as provide you with a stately and beautiful wood floor.

And when it comes to maintaining your household and keeping it clean, there are products which are organic, chemical-free and all-natural.  How about cleaning your toilet and sinks using vinegar and baking soda instead of expensive commercial cleaning solutions?

4. Reduce waste from home construction.

Waste reduction starts when you’re designing your new home or renovating your current one.  You can make a conscious decision to manage your building materials better, such as salvaging useful materials like scrap wood sections and hardware.  Extra wood could easily be turned into stunningly pretty furniture, mulch or even firewood if you heat your home with a wood-burning furnace.  Scrap metal may be easily sold or recycled as well.

Making use of advanced framing techniques to help minimize the amount of wood and lumber you need to build your house without affecting its structural integrity is another method to reducing waste during your new or existing home project. If you need to, find a friend or family member who either knows home renovation or has a connection in the industry – don’t be afraid to ask for helps and tips.

Nothing is better than keeping long-term sustainability and durability in mind when constructing or renovating a home. If you design for the long-run and spend a little extra up front, you can easily forego having to shell out more in the future on building materials and repairs, which also contributes greatly to long-term waste reduction.

If you want to get really crazy with it (and super cool) you could consider building a home out of old shipping containers, aluminum cans or all sorts of other recyclable and reusable stuff that otherwise would just lay around. Yes, it’s been done and it’s been done well. Look it up.

These are just some of the steps you could take to ensure that you’re building a green home. Yet, if you still feel overwhelmed and think it’s too much to take on by yourself, don’t fret. There are excellent green expert services such as Elements by Taylor Morrison.  Partnering with them will definitely make sure that you get all the benefits of building and living in a green home without having to worry about the details.

* Image Credit – http://www.flickr.com/photos/ketteringboroughcouncil/6032103626/

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