Simple Tips to Make your Home More Eco-Friendly
As the cost of living continues to rise in Orange County, it’s no surprise that people are looking to reduce their household expenses. There are all kinds of tactics being used, and even incentives for making green improvements to your home. Making simple changes to your home that are more energy conscious and efficient can result in a positive impact to your purse, and it helps the strain on our resources as well. Here are some simple things you can do to make your home more eco-friend and energy efficient.
4 Simple Tips to Make your Home More Eco-Friendly
Energy Efficient Lightbulbs
One of the least invasive ways you can take strides towards energy efficiency, and also one of the least expensive, is to replace any old iridescent lightbulbs you have with CFL or LED bulbs. On average, about 12 percent of a home’s energy bill goes towards lighting. CFL bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last 10-25 percent longer than a regular iridescent bulb. Those numbers alone encourage a switch to a eco-friendlier bulb.
Fix Leaking Faucets and Toilets
Living in Southern California, we constantly hear that we need to conserve water. Well the reality is that the cost of water has gone up significantly, and any kind of leaky faucet or running toilet can hit you hard in the pocketbooks. Hire a plumber, or do it yourself, but fixing leaky faucets and running toilets can help impact your bottom line as well as make your home greener.
Install a Smart Thermostat
We don’t necessarily have the coldest winters here, but they are cool enough to require some kind of heat during the winter, at least for most people. In the summer, it has been known to be quite warm, causing people to turn on their AC’s. But that also leads to people leaving their heaters and AC’s on when they go to work or they go run errands, using electricity or gas while you aren’t even in your home. If you install a smart thermostat you can set your thermostat and let it do all the regulating. Some of them even allow you to set the thermostat when remotely, so you can turn on your heater on the way home from work. It’s energy efficiency and convenience, all rolled into one.
Install Low-Flow Toilets and Showerheads
Depending on how much work you want to do, installing low-flow toilets and showerheads is a great way to help your home be eco-friendlier. Low-flow toilets and showers cut down water usage between 25-30 percent. And you’d be surprised to learn that low-flow showers aren’t as bad as they sound. Plus, you can save anywhere from $100-$200 a year on your water bill if you switch to low-flow showerheads and toilets.
Find your Orange County Home Today
Whether you’re looking for a home that is already energy efficient with solar panels, low-flow toilets and other energy efficient appliances or a home where you can create your own eco-friendly paradise, I can help you. With listings all over Orange County, from Ladera Ranch to Newport Beach and everything in between, I am confident that I can find you a place to call home. Contact me to find the listing that’s right for you.