Article by Ryan Fitzgerald with Raleigh Realty Homes
Whether you buy an older home or a new construction home, there are most likely modifications and renovations you can do to make your new house more eco-friendly. If you are looking to spend less money on your energy bill each month, are looking to downsize your home to live more efficiently, want to reduce your environmental impact, or you want to increase the value of your home before you get it appraised for a new sales listing, there have never been more reasons to pursue sustainability than there are right now.
Where do you even start, though? While this process might seem overwhelming when you look at it as a whole, by breaking it down room-by-room throughout your house, you can guarantee it will be a much less daunting prospect.
If you are just starting to consider making eco-friendly modifications or renovations to your home, then you might find yourself feeling lost knowing where to even start. You have a variety of rooms in the house to choose from, then further options to choose from within each room.
Let’s take a room-by-room look at potential eco-friendly modifications and renovations you can make to your home.
Kitchen
Here are some of the major home modifications and renovations you can do to make your kitchen more eco-friendly.
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Install energy-efficient lighting: This is one great way you can improve your kitchen while also increasing its sustainability. The most energy-efficient lighting available to you is natural lighting, so making renovations that increase natural light will make the largest difference possible. However, even just making the switch to LED bulbs is a great low-cost change you can make while greatly improving how eco-friendly your kitchen is.
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Install energy-efficient windows: Installing large windows that allow for more natural light in your kitchen is not only a great way to improve the overall look of your kitchen, but also offers a great opportunity to improve the sustainability of your kitchen. By installing Energy Star windows you can greatly decrease the amount of heat and air conditioning lost through them, decreasing your energy bill by an average of 12%.
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Install energy-efficient appliances: Replacing old kitchen appliances with new energy-efficient models is the most impactful eco-friendly renovation you can make to your entire home. Kitchen appliances are typically responsible for around 10% or more of your home’s cumulative energy consumption.
Here are some of the ways replacing various older kitchen appliances with newer energy-efficient ones will help make your home more eco-friendly.
Freezer and Refrigerator:
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If your refrigerator is more than 12 years old then it is likely due for a replacement.
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Energy Star models will use around 9% less energy than other current models and save even more compared to outdated models.
Dishwasher:
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Energy Star model dishwashers are required to use 3.5 gallons of water per cycle or less while older units might use 10 or more gallons per cycle.
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Purchase a dishwasher with an energy-saving mode.
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Only run the dishwasher when it is full.
Oven and Stovetop:
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While there is no Energy Star label for residential ovens or stovetops, modern induction range tops and convection ovens perform better than gas ones do.
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Convection ovens typically use around 20% less energy than gas ovens.
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Self-cleaning ovens have increased efficiency due to being insulated, allowing for less heat to escape.
Besides replacing your appliances, another great way to make your home more eco-friendly is by reducing waste. Here are some of the best ways to do that.
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Compost bucket: Adding a countertop compost bin to your kitchen is an easy and great way to reduce food waste, reducing your environmental impact in the kitchen.
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Install new faucets and aerators: Installing water-efficient faucets and aerators can reduce water flow greatly while maintaining water pressure.
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Install a dishwasher: Not only is using a dishwasher less of a hassle than washing your dishes by hand, but in fact, it’s also substantially less wasteful, using three to four times less water to wash a full 12 place setting than washing by hand.
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Recycle water: Instead of dumping cooking water down the drain after using it, use it to water plants.
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Turn off your tap between short uses: A running tap can waste as much as 9 liters of water per minute.
While your kitchen is likely the biggest opportunity for eco-friendly modifications and renovations in your home, there are plenty of opportunities in other rooms as well. Read the full article here.