As spring approaches (or maybe it’s already here…70 degree temperatures in Pennsylvania in February!!), many of us are looking for ways to spruce up our homes and embrace the new season. It is the perfect opportunity to make some changes to our living spaces. By incorporating sustainable practices into our projects, we can utilize these eco-friendly home projects (both big and small) to honor our planet, save some money, and remove toxic chemicals from our homes.
There are so many eco-friendly home projects we can tackle this spring, ranging from easy daily habits, to small changes, to larger renovations. We can start by swapping out your light bulbs for energy-efficient LED bulbs, which use less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Another simple change is to switch to eco-friendly cleaning products, which are made with non-toxic natural ingredients. Or we can go bigger and work on installing a rainwater capture system so we can reduce our municipal water usage.
The sky’s the limit, let’s get planning.
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Planning Your Eco-Friendly Home Projects
Spring is the perfect time to start planning your eco-friendly home projects. I mean, I do it all year long, every day. And I’m pretty sure the Boyfriend is extremely tired of hearing my “what if” questions as they pertain to our beautiful older home (oh shit, I think it just turned 60 this year!). Here are some tips to help you make your home greener this year.
Assessing Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Before you start any home renovation project, it’s important to have a good grasp on how energy efficient your home currently is, and if you don’t know it might be a good idea to assess your energy use. This will help you plan for or identify areas where you can make improvements to reduce your home energy consumption and save money on your utility bills.
One way to assess your home’s energy efficiency is to schedule an energy audit. A professional energy auditor can evaluate your home’s energy usage and identify areas where you can make improvements. They might recommend upgrades such as adding insulation, sealing air leaks, or upgrading your heating/cooling system.
Another way to assess your home’s energy efficiency is to conduct a DIY energy audit. This is what we did, and it involves walking through your home and identifying areas where you can make improvements. You can start with adding LED light bulbs or weatherstrippingWe made the assumption (and could feel the drafts) that our windows and doors needed replaced. We replaced our windows, and weatherstripped the doors. And then we added insulation. And then we added an efficient cold climate mini-split system.
After all of that, we actually performed an energy audit with our Emporia Energy Monitor. With this information, we know how much energy all of our appliances and/or rooms consumes. This has led us to massive energy savings. And with that information, we were able to adequately size our solar energy system last year.
Choosing Sustainable Home Materials
When planning your eco-friendly home projects, it’s important to choose sustainable materials. This might mean selecting materials that are renewable, recycled or recyclable at the end of their life, or biodegradable. It also means you’ll be shopping with sustainability in mind. We like to look for items that are going to outlast us in addition to the material it’s made out of. When we purchased our new roof last year, we made sure we went with a manufacturing company that uses 100% Recycled Steel (and it’s American-made), and that our roof would be 100% recyclable at the end of it’s (very, very, very) long life.
One sustainable material to consider is bamboo. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that can be harvested sustainably without damaging the environment. It’s also strong, durable, and versatile, making it a popular choice for flooring, furniture, and other home decor. A similar option would be cork, which comes from the bark of cork oak trees, but harvesting the cork doesn’t kill the tree.
Another sustainable material to consider is reclaimed wood. This is wood that has been salvaged from old buildings or other sources and repurposed for use in new construction. Reclaimed wood adds unique character and warmth to your home.
Energy-Saving Home Projects
Most home improvements (at least the ones we’ve done) are energy saving. And spring is the perfect time to get started on planning your eco-friendly home projects that can help you save you money and energy while reducing your carbon footprint.
Energy Star Appliances
Appliances are a great place to start when thinking of making their home more eco-friendly. When shopping for new appliances (as they break and/or you can afford to upgrade them), it is always a good option to look for appliances with energy star ratings. Energy Star certification is a program created by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA). According to the Department of Energy, the “ENERGY STAR…program sets specifications, testing procedures, and verification testing requirements for various consumer appliances, electronics, and commercial equipment.”
By investing in energy-efficient home appliances like a water heater or air conditioning unit, homeowners can make a big difference in reducing their home’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. One popular choice for an energy-efficient water heater is a tankless water heater, which heats water on demand and can help reduce energy usage and costs since it doesn’t have to maintain 40+ gallons of water to a perfect set temperature all the time.
Energy Star Appliances not only help to make a home more energy efficient, but they also contribute to an environmentally friendly and sustainable living environment. By making these small eco-friendly home improvements, you are saving money on energy bills while creating an energy efficient home. And you are also increasing your home equity and potentially qualifying for an energy-efficient home improvement credit.
Upgrading to Insulation
If your home is older (like ours!), chances are it is poorly insulated and you could be losing a lot of energy and money through your walls, floors, and roof. It’s one of those moments that flashes back to my mom saying “we can’t afford to heat the outside” when someone left the exterior door open. Essentially, without proper insulation, you are heating or cooling the outside temperature by letting the climate controlled air out through the poorly insulated portions of your home.
Upgrading your insulation can help you keep your home comfortable year-round, while also reducing your energy bills. Adding insulation to your attic can save you on your heating and cooling costs; I know it definitely has for us.
We added insulation in 2020, I think. We wanted to make sure we wouldn’t be losing any of our heated/cooled air to the outside world before we added central air with our cold-climate mini split installation planned for later that year. Turns out the insulation around our home is pretty decent, and we only needed attic insulation, but that made a HUGE difference in our bedroom (right below the attic). The cool air we were feeding our room ACTUALLY stayed in our room.
As we slowly work on finishing the rest of the house, and insulate the floor joists and adding floorings/ceilings (a large part of our house isn’t considered “finished” or “living area,” which was a huge factor in helping us afford to buy it), we keep noticing a significant difference with every room. I’m excited about recycled blue jean insulation, and maybe trying to get some of that for our next project.
Installing Solar Panels
One of the most effective ways your green home and reduce your reliance on energy sources like fossil fuels is by installing solar panels on your roof. You can even ground mount them, if you have the space. Solar panels harness the energy of the sun, so they are a renewable energy source. As the technology in solar panels advances, and is no longer brand new, they are becoming increasingly affordable and efficient, making them a great investment for homeowners who want to go green. While a solar energy system has a high upfront cost, a typical system pays for itself in about 10 years (according to Gilbert Michaud, a professor of environmental policy at Loyola University Chicago). Following that, your system can save you thousands of dollars in energy costs.
But, we spent the last several years doing our research before we finally had our solar installed. And those couple of years made us realize that A LOT of companies selling solar energy systems are, to put it nicely, scammers. They are legitimate companies that are preying on the confusing nature of the federal tax credits, and the unknown about solar power generation to hike up the price and to try to get you to pay ridiculous interest rates at banks they have partnerships with.
I plan to put together a solar buying guide in the future because buying solar or getting a system placed on your property really shouldn’t take YEARS of research and it shouldn’t feel like you are being scammed. If you’re anywhere near Western Pennsylvania, we recommend you use our local installer, Scharf Solar Energy. He was super knowledgeable, fair, and thorough.
Smart Home Thermostats
Smart home thermostats are a great way to save energy and money, while also increasing your home’s comfort level. These thermostats can learn your daily routine and adjust the temperature accordingly, so you’re not wasting energy when you’re not home. Some models even allow you to control your thermostat from your smartphone, so you can adjust the temperature remotely. According to EnergyStar.Gov, a smart thermostat can save you up to 8% (around $50/year) on your heating and cooling costs.
Water Conservation Techniques
As we aim to make sustainable home improvements, water conservation is a crucial aspect to consider, both due to the energy required in the water treatment process and the overall climate implications. Water is a non-renewable resource, meaning we only have so much available to us to use in our daily lives.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Rainwater harvesting is a great way to conserve water and reduce our reliance on municipal water supplies. By collecting and storing rainwater, we can use it for outdoor watering or flushing toilets without any filtering.
To set up a rainwater harvesting system, you need to install gutters and downspouts on your roof to channel the rainwater into a storage tank. The tank can be above or below ground and should be covered to prevent evaporation, contamination, or algae growth.
Our rainwater harvesting system was started a couple years ago. We had been watering with our hose, only to (1) have to refill all the items required for our indoor water/well-system to work more frequently, and (2) to realize that we were essentially salting our beautiful garden. When we watered, the next day a fine layer of white crystals would have formed on the surface. After a couple weeks of that, and lots of research, we decided that our garden should only be watered with beautiful, nature-provided rainwater. Since then, we’ve been tinkering with our system to (hopefully) automate it, and then add our drip irrigation to further automate watering.
Low-Flow Fixtures and Toilets
Low-flow fixtures and toilets are designed to use less water without compromising their effectiveness. By installing low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets, we actually can save a significant amount of water in our day-to-day lives.
For example, a low-flow showerhead can save up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute compared to a standard showerhead. Similarly, a low-flow toilet can use 1.6 gallons of water per flush, while a standard toilet uses up to 5 gallons per flush.
Overall, these water conservation techniques are easy to implement, most are simple 10 minute DIY projects, and can make a significant impact on our water usage. For most of them, you are just screwing low-flow aerators directly onto your faucets or shower heads, but switching out your toilet, might take a little longer.
Eco-Friendly Gardening and Landscaping
As we turn the clocks forward (it’s a US thing, if you have no idea what that means), now is the perfect time to start working on your garden and landscaping. You’re adding beauty to your home, increasing your property value, and it can also be a great way to help the environment.
Starting an Organic Garden
If you’re wanting to grow your own food or herbs this year, one way to make your garden more eco-friendly is by starting an organic garden. This means using natural methods to grow your plants without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Instead, you would use compost and other organic materials to enrich and feed your soil. These natural methods of fertilizing can helps your plants grow better. Plus then whatever you’re growing will tastes soooo freaking amazing, and be that much better for you. Your body and the environment will thank you for reducing the amount of chemicals that end up in our water and soil.
And let me be clear, when I’m suggesting start an organic garden, I 100% don’t mean to go get your garden organic certified, or to only buy organic seeds….those aren’t the important factors. To start an organic garden, you simply begin by choosing the right plants for your climate and soil, and then make the conscious choice to NOT use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides in and around your garden. You can also create a compost bin to help you make your own organic fertilizer. Having a thriving garden will help keep pests away, naturally, but you can always add in companion planting, which is planting certain plants together to help them grow better and keep pests away.
Native Plants Landscaping
Another way to make your landscaping more eco-friendly, and massively increase your impact on the environment in a positive way, is by using native plants. These are plants that are naturally found in your area and are adapted to the local climate and soil. Native plants are vital for the ecosystems in your area to thrive. Certain animals, birds, and insects can only eat or raise their young on particular native plants, and as more monoculture yards are planted with non-native grasses, there are fewer places for these creatures to thrive.
By planting native plants, you are reduce the amount of water and maintenance needed for your landscaping since these plants are adjusted to your growing zone and climate, as well as providing a habitat for local wildlife.
To incorporate native plants into your landscaping, you can start by researching which plants are native to your area. You can also create a rain garden, which is a garden that is designed to collect rainwater and filter it back into the ground. This not only helps conserve water but also helps reduce erosion and pollution. SO. MANY. IDEAS.
We started adding native plants, shrubs, and trees to our property last year. A lot of our native shrubs were planted for Earth Day 2023, and then we planted out some native plants into our “rain garden” in June. And finally, last fall we planted about 20ish native trees all around our property. I’m excited to see what all of them do this year.
By incorporating these eco-friendly gardening and landscaping ideas, you can 100% create a beautiful and sustainable outdoor space that benefits both you and the environment.
Final Thoughts on Eco-Friendly Home Projects
As we come to the end of our journey exploring eco-friendly home projects, it is important to reflect on the impact these changes can have on our environment. By choosing to reuse materials and reduce our waste, we are creating a more sustainable home, helping our local ecosystems thrive, and setting an example for others to follow. Small changes, such as using energy-efficient appliances or installing solar panels, can make a big difference to the planet, and your wallet (in the future). It’s all about taking small steps towards a greener future. Remember, every little bit counts when it comes to protecting our planet for future generations. So, as you’re planning out your home improvement project this spring, consider how you can make it just a little bit more eco-friendly.