Being environmentally friendly is a huge concern for most people today; many would like nothing better than to make their homes better for the environment and, as a side benefit, lower their bills. There are many home renovation projects that can enable this to happen. You can not only feel good about your home and find your energy and fuel bills to be far lowered, but you may also merit some tax breaks.
Solar panels that are used for thermal heat and energy are a major modern component for most eco-friendly renovation projects. These can be quite expensive to install, especially because the installation can take up to a couple of days and the parts themselves are costly to manufacture. However, the devices will end up paying for themselves over the years as your heating and electricity bills get drastically reduced.
These panels use the energy they gather from the sun during the day to convert into full-time power and heat for the house. You will find that you do not need nearly as much fuel or use as much electricity as you had before. They need few repairs over the years and you may get a tax credit for installing them.
Using energy-efficient insulation is a great way to reduce your energy costs. Many people use fiberglass insulation in their houses which is both good and bad. A house can be kept quite warm with this type of insulation, which means that it will require less heat energy to keep the house safe and warm. The major problem with fiberglass insulation is that it is not biodegradable, so if any of it gets thrown out, it will be a pollutant.
Mineral wool is a different insulation type that actually is biodegradable. It is just as good of an option for keeping your house warm because it conducts heat well and is better for the environment. The only advantage fiberglass has over mineral wool is that fiberglass is a great deal more fire-resistant.
Pellet stoves are a wonderful contribution to your home that can also give you a tax break and reduce your reliance on fuel. They heat your house using wood pellets instead of wood logs. More trees can stay growing because pellet stoves give off just as much heat with pellets as a fireplace that used logs. They often come with sensors so they can tell the external temperature. When they have heated a room enough, they will automatically shut off and turn back on again when it gets cold again.
Wind turbines are something not yet available for private houses–at least not unless you have a great deal of money and a lot of land–but you should keep an eye out for new technological developments that may allow for more consumer use. By using the power of the wind, just like a windmill would, these turbines can convert great deals of energy into power for human use. Scientists are attempting to make these smaller and cheaper so eventually everyone can have them.
Less extensive projects can still save you money, however. For example, using energy efficient light bulbs will make the bulbs last longer and lower your bills. Draught-proofing your doors and windows will keep heat from escaping so you do not need to turn up the heat as much in the winter. Making an efficient recycling area in your home will enable you to better separate your products and know what can be recycled.
May 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
[...] Home Renovation Projects That Are Good For The Environment There are many home renovation projects that can enable this to happen. You can not only feel good about your home and find your energy and fuel bills to be far lowered… [...]
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Solar powered air conditioners and heat pumps are now available. They are more expensive as an initial investment, but imagine cutting your heating bill to 20% of what it is now.