How to Keep Your Home Green

Keeping your house more in sync with nature is more than just the latest fad. Everyone loves to talk about how green their house is and their energy efficient setups but, for many, it’s mostly just talk. If you’re interested in putting your money where your mouth is, so to speak, there’s good news: Making your condo, apartment, or townhouse green is possible (and surprisingly easy).

So, why should you go green? You’ll ease up on mother nature and save money in the process by going along with this popular trend. The best part is that many green living strategies are cheap or even free.

Reduce Your Paper Trail

Junk mail is one of the more annoying parts of being an adult, and it’s a huge drain on resources. Almost every service, utility bill, and coupon provider has a free digital option these days. You can get your banking statements and service bills through email, and coupons are easily scanned from a tablet or smartphone. Use these options to cut down on your paper trail, and you’ll be doing your part to reduce fuel consumption. Less transportation for delivery, less fossil fuel, and more great savings/timely bill payments—what’s not to like?

Use LED or CFL light bulbs

LED or CFL bulbs have been around for a while now, and they’re a sure way to save you money on your electric bill. Both options generate far less heat, use about one-fourth the power, and last 10 to 20 times longer than your standard incandescent light bulb. This new technology in light bulbs also lights up your surroundings in a more pleasant way with soft, white light, rather than the old yellow glow from incandescent lights.

CFLs and LEDS are more expensive per unit, but they also last for years longer than incandescent bulbs, making them worthy of attention. They also benefit from direct energy savings that extend years into the future (around the same as their lifespan).

Fix Leaks in Your House (Air and Water)

It may sound daunting to take on do-it-yourself projects in your home, but many of them (especially leaks) are easier to fix than you may think. Just fixing any water leaks in your taps or shower can save you a tremendous amount of money on water bills from the county or city, and sealing up windows will prevent drafts that can kill your HVAC efficiency.

Check the seals around your windows; you may need to add to or redo the caulking if it’s begun to wear away. The gaps between your doors and their frames can also widen or lose support, especially in the spring after a rough winter.

Next, check for leaky faucets and toilets. Are they trickling? Can you hear dripping? If so, check joists, junctions, seals, and other connectors. If you find rust or degradation, it’s likely that you need to replace the joint completely to fix the leak. This can require a little more elbow grease if you need to tighten a valve or a pipe.

Finding a condo for sale is easy. Finding the right condo for your lifestyle? That can be more of a challenge. Phoenix Homes wants to help you get into a brand-new eco-friendly home you can truly fall in love with. Browse our communities on our website to get an idea of what you’re looking for in your next home.