Improving Existing Homes Toward Net Zero
Carbon neutrality is one of the biggest deals for property construction in the 2020s, yet it takes a lot of planning and work to make it happen. This has quickly become a term many people use interchangeably with green living, and for obvious reasons! Both are fantastic for the environment.
You don't have to restart and build a new home from scratch to live more energy efficiently, though! These are the top ways you can move your home towards net zero and why it's such a big deal.
Alternative Power Sources
Power is one of the most important parts of any home. Beyond the countless electronic devices, we use every day, electricity powers our lights, our HVAC systems, and everything in between.
There are dozens of ways to reduce how much electricity you need to use, but it's also a good idea to consider changing how you source your electricity!
The most popular option is still solar. You don't have to give up roof space. Instead, you can set out a solar display on the back lawn or even cover your shed in panels, depending on what direction your home is facing.
These have a big price tag when you get them, but they are incredible in the long term.
Incredible Insulation Throughout
Insulation is one of the most important parts of modern life! This traps the air at exactly the temperature you want while still giving you a chance to warm or cool your home as you wish. Insulation is also able to help create a buffer between how much noise is inside and outside your home and can stop moisture and insect life from making their way inside.
This material should be in your attic space with your roof, in your walls, and even in your floorboards if you have a crawl space beneath your property. Most polyiso exterior wall insulation lasts well over fifty years but needs to be high quality when it goes in.
Keep Your Home as Sealed as Possible
How well sealed is your home from the outside elements? Do you know how high-quality your soffit panels are, or are you just hoping they'll do the job? Go through your home bit by bit and look for any weak spots that could allow air to escape.
This is most important with your windows and doors, which will easily leak air if given a chance. Fortunately, if it's just one or two of your windows, you don't have to replace all of them to get a good seal. Instead, you can look for replacement window parts. These will fix the issue while saving you money and still allowing your home to look like one unified piece.
Lighting That Doesn't Need Much
Modern green living has a large focus on lighting. In many homes, the best way to do this is to add lighting that doesn't need a ton of work or attention to work. This can be done through skylights or clever placement of windows towards whatever area of the home gets the most light. In some properties, internal windows have become a big deal.
If you have an easy-to-work-with siding like synthetic stucco, don't be shy about cutting in more windows. Just make sure they're high-quality and well-sealed.
Working With Modern Technology
Modern technology is your friend in trying to get to true net zero! To get there, use things like smart light bulbs, smart thermostats, and smart heating throughout your home.
A smart thermostat is the easiest and best place to start. These allow you to set schedules for your heating or cooling and even control it from your phone when you're not home. This means that you can stop it if it's running when nobody's there or get it ready to heat up just an hour or two before you get home.
Not only does this give you a more comfortable property, but in the long run, it also saves electricity and helps your property be more green.
Making Lifestyle Changes
Some lifestyle changes are a must! Unfortunately, this can often be the hardest plan to implement since they're not something you can simply buy and expect to work. This means making sure to turn off lights, use ovens and electronics more efficiently, and pay attention to how and when you're using them.
Over time these changes can make a huge difference in your bills and how green your home is, but they're things you need to commit to in order to ensure they work.
Every Property Can Step Into the Future
Whether your property was built in the 1950s or it's only five years old, it's far easier to turn a home into a net zero masterpiece than you'd expect! Consider following some of these tips to watch your property transform into a dream come true.