5 Ways To Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly (And Save Money Too)

It can be tricky to make your home more eco-friendly. Environmentally-conscious homeowners often find themselves faced with dilemmas of higher costs for “green” options. Fortunately, it’s possible to save the planet while saving financial resources as well. Here are a few ways to make that happen.

Solar Panels

Solar power New Jersey used to be an option only for more well-to-do homeowners, but more efficient manufacturing and tax credits have made solar panels a much more accessible choice for many middle-class families. In addition, homeowners now have the choice of installing panels on their roof (or in a sunny backyard location) or purchasing roofing materials with integrated solar panel materials.

LED Lighting

LED lighting may cost more up front than traditional incandescent light bulbs, but it will last far longer and require much less energy than standard bulbs (for sizeable cost savings in the long run). Today’s LED bulbs are every bit as functional and attractive as traditional bulbs, with a wide range of light colors and bulb shapes. In addition, the brighter light emitted from some LED bulbs may result in fewer lamps required to illuminate rooms, resulting in even further savings. 

Water-Saving Fixtures

Low-flow showerheads, aerated faucets and high-efficiency toilets are affordable ways to conserve our earth’s water resources while reducing your water bill. The savings over time of installing even one or two of these fixtures in your home will quickly add up, ensuring that your family is a good steward of water.

Energy-Efficient Windows

A wide range of energy-efficient windows are available, with double-paned glass for insulation and even special coatings to help moderate temperatures in your home, resulting in energy savings over time. If total window replacement isn’t an option for your family, consider insulated window treatments (such as heavy curtains) to keep warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the summer. 

Recycled Materials

Considering installing a new counter, backsplash or floor? Recycled glass tiles and slabs are an excellent choice for the eco-conscious buyer. Glass is an ideal building material for these purposes, because in addition to being durable and cost-friendly, glass also exhibits a beauty all its own. Tiles may be single-color pieces just like traditional ceramic tiles, blended with certain colorants to mimic materials such as slate or even incorporated into a pattern to imitate granite or marble. 

Eco-friendly homes make the world a little cleaner for all of us. By conserving resources or choosing green solutions, you can take a little bit of the burden off of mother earth and even save some cash while you’re at it.