8 Eco-Friendly Home Upgrades to Consider in Your New Home

Eco friendly home upgrages

8 Eco-Friendly Home Upgrades to Consider in Your New Home

Are you in the process of buying or building a new home? If so, congratulations! This is an exciting time in your life. While you are undoubtedly focused on things like location and size, it’s important to think about eco-friendly upgrades that can be made to your new home. There are many ways to make your home more sustainable and environmentally friendly, and many of these upgrades can be done without breaking the bank. In this article, we will discuss eco-friendly upgrades that you may want to consider for your new home. By making these upgrades, you can help reduce your environmental impact and make your new home more sustainable!

Let’s go straight into our top ten suggestions:

1. Consider Eco-Friendly Landscaping Options

If you are starting from scratch with your landscaping, consider planting grass rather than cementing your front yard. Aside from the known fact that natural landscaping provides natural beauty, the grass is a much more sustainable choice since it is natural and doesn’t hurt the environment in any way. It also helps to absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants, which can help improve air quality.

If you have an existing concrete patio or walkway, you can still make it more eco-friendly by planting grass or other plants around the edges. This will help to reduce your carbon footprint and make your home more sustainable.

Planting trees is another great way to improve the sustainability of your home. Trees provide shade and can help cool your home in the summer months. They also help to absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants, which can also improve air quality. They also give the added benefit of protecting your house from strong winds.

If you are considering trees for your property, choose native species that are well-suited to the climate in your area. This will help ensure that they thrive and don’t require excessive amounts of water or chemicals to maintain them.

2. Opt For Water Efficient Fixtures

One of the easiest ways to make your home more sustainable is to install water-efficient fixtures. This is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that can have a big impact. Water-efficient fixtures include low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets. These fixtures use less water than standard fixtures, which can save you money on your water bill and help reduce your water usage.

Low-flow toilets are especially important, as they can save a lot of water. A standard toilet uses about four gallons of water per flush, while a low-flow toilet only uses about one and a half gallons.

There are also dual flush toilets that have two buttons that allow you to choose between a full or partial flush. This can make a big difference in your water usage, and it’s an easy upgrade to make.

Water-efficient showerheads are another great option, as they can save a lot of water. A standard showerhead uses about two and a half gallons of water per minute, while a water-efficient showerhead only uses about one and a quarter gallons.

There are also low-flow faucets available that can help you save water. A standard faucet uses about two and a half gallons of water per minute, while a low-flow faucet only uses about one gallon.

These are just a few of the many water-efficient fixtures that are available on the market. By upgrading to these fixtures, you can make a big difference in your water usage and help to make your home more sustainable.

3. Install Solar Panels

Solar panels are becoming more common in Ghana and according to the international renewable energy agency, solar energy could power 13% of the world by 2030. Solar panels are a great way to reduce your energy consumption and your carbon footprint. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which can then be used to power your home. They are a great eco-friendly option, as they don’t produce any emissions or pollution.

Solar panels can be installed on your roof or in your yard. They can be used to power your entire home or just a portion of it. If you are only powering a portion of your home, you can still save money on your energy bill.

Solar panels are a big investment, but they can save you money in the long run. They are also a great way to make your home more sustainable.

If you are looking at installing solar panels, make sure you do your research. There are many different types and sizes of solar panels available, and you will want to choose the type that is right for your home requirements.

4. Go For Energy-Efficient Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of your home, and it’s also one of the easiest to make more sustainable. Energy-efficient lighting uses less energy than traditional lighting, and it can save you money on your energy bill.

There are many different types of energy-efficient lighting available, including LED lights, CFLs, and even solar-powered lights. LED lights are the most energy-efficient option, as they use about 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. CFLs are also a good choice, as they use about 50% less energy.

Solar-powered lights are a great eco-friendly option, as they don’t require any electricity to operate. They are also very easy to install, as they can be placed in any sunny location.

While all these options are available as energy-efficient lighting alternatives, one other way that is more natural is using the windows. If your home gets a lot of natural light, you can open the curtains and let the sunlight in. This can help to reduce your energy consumption and make your home more sustainable.

5. Go For Energy Efficient Appliances

Appliances are another big area where you can save energy and make your home more sustainable. Energy-efficient appliances use less energy than traditional appliances, and they can help you save money on your energy bill.

There are many different types of energy-efficient appliances available, including refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers. Energy-efficient refrigerators use about 20% less energy than traditional models, and they can help you save money on your energy bill. Dishwashers and washing machines are also available in energy-efficient models, which can use about 40% less water than traditional models.

Dryers are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in your home, so it’s important to choose an energy-efficient model. Dryers use about 50% less energy than traditional models, and they can help you save money on your energy bill.

6. Use Sunlight For Drying Clothes

Another great way to make your home more sustainable is to use the sun for drying clothes. Drying your clothes in the sun is a great way to save energy and money, as it doesn’t require any electricity.

You can hang your clothes on a clothesline or drying rack in your yard, or you can place them in a sunny spot in your home. If you live in an area with a lot of sun, you can even dry your clothes outside on a sunny day.

Aside from its energy-saving benefits, drying your clothes in the sun can also help to keep them looking and smelling fresh. The UV rays from the sun can help to kill bacteria and mold, and they can also help to remove stains. It also helps clothes last longer.

7. Use Recycled Materials When Possible

When you are doing home upgrades, it’s important to try to use recycled materials when possible. This is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment and make your home more sustainable.

There are many different types of recycled materials available, including recycled glass, metal, wood, tiles, and plastic. Depending on your needs, you can find recycled materials that are perfect to support internal or external walls, floors, ceilings, windows, countertops, furniture, fencing, decking, and other areas of your house.

8. Check For Certifications

When you are looking for sustainable home upgrades, it’s important to check for certifications. This is a great way to make sure that the products you are using are actually eco-friendly.

There are many different types of certifications available, including Energy Star, LEED, and EPA certifications. These certifications can help you find products and brands that meet certain standards for energy efficiency, sustainability, and safety.

Final Thoughts

Adapting an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t mean that you have to make big changes all at once. You can start small by making some simple home upgrades. These upgrades can help you save energy, money, and the environment.

The need for a sustainable environment is more important than ever, and there are many ways that you can make your home more sustainable. By making some simple changes, you can help to make a big difference.