What it Takes to have a Green Home: 6 Ideas

Written by Posted On Friday, 05 April 2019 15:15

The idea of “going green” rings positive for most people, but it’s more than just recycling paper and reusable water bottles. Whether you are a homebuyer who really cares about the environment, or a real estate agent who really cares about the environment, it can be handy to know what goes into a “green home”. They are actually more common than you may think, and more are being built every day.

 

Idea 1: Going Green by Going Smaller

Buying a home that is too big is a rookie homebuyer mistake. Not only are you likely to have a more expensive mortgage with a bigger house, but you are also going to waste more energy and materials in its upkeep. Actually, there are many great financial and psychological benefits towards a minimalist lifestyle. You can use your move as an opportunity to throw out all your superfluous belongings and start again on a clean page. Going smaller may be even easier than you think what with ingenious modern storage techniques. If we’re honest with ourselves, we only need so much space, and by taking up less space on mother earth’s surface, we give her more room to breathe.

 

Idea 2: Solar Panels

Solar energy for homes is getting easier, cheaper, and is one of the very best ways to make a “green” home choice. Some solar-powered homes even generate enough energy that they can sell their surplus back to your utility company. Tax incentives, home-value appreciation, and contributing to America’s self-sufficiency in energy are the other benefits added to your “green” solar panel decision. Right as you are either building or buying your new home is the perfect time to invest in solar panels. Go ahead and check online for an estimate of how much you could save by installing solar panels.

 

Idea 3: House-Warming “Green” Gifts

There can be quite a few side-costs associated with moving into a new home including decor, appliances, etc. This can be an important “green” decision as well. Make a decision when you move in that you won’t use plastic grocery bags anymore — reusable grocery bags from here on out, in addition to energy-efficient appliances, new environmentally-friendly light bulbs, and programmable thermostats. There are so many “green” items that you can buy to refurbish your new home.

 

Idea 4: Green building materials

Some people dream of building their own home. Some find a great home that just needs a little bit of remodeling. Both groups of people should take a look at the long list of sustainable materials that they can use, including linoleum, bamboo, cork, recycled plastic, and reclaimed lumber. Ceilings, walls, flooring, shelving, and more home amenities can be built just as easily with sustainable materials as with unsustainable materials. Building with sustainable materials will also appreciate the value of your home to future buyers who also have an eye for “green” living.

 

Idea 5: Geothermal Power

If you’re planning on being in your new home for quite some time, consider geothermal power. It’s another green investment, like solar panels, that could seriously appreciate the value of your home. Basically, geothermal power will allow you to take your heat from the earth during the winter and dissipate it into the earth during the summer. In addition to being more eco-friendly than combustion-generated heat, geothermal power can generate energy for your home and make your home a more attractive option to future buyers.

 

Idea 6: New Home-Habits

The day you move into a new home is the absolute, perfect time to start some new eco-friendly habits. Recycling, composting, saving energy by turning off all your appliances at night, reusable water bottles, and buying local produce are all great ways to start protecting your environment.

Your eating habits will also contribute to your personal well-being as well as the well-being of the world around you. For example, a vegan lifestyle contributes to much less processing, plastic waste, and manufacturing when compared to a non-vegan lifestyle. You can find all sorts of vegan products, including vegan ice cream, vegan snacks, vegan meat, vegan isolate protein, and vegan breads. All of which taste great and do great things for the health of your body and spirit.

 

Conclusion

The world is beginning to see that keeping our planet green can no longer be done passively. And as time goes by, it becomes more and more important to adopt “green” practices in all areas, including real estate.

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