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Eco-friendly living is the new buzzword in town. Thousands of people are trying to incorporate eco-friendly gadgets in their homes as a part of this initiative. But what actually makes a house eco-friendly? Is it only about gadgets and technology that makes your home go green? Here are a few things that you should know about eco-friendly houses:
1) Solar panels
More than anything else, your house should have solar panels to keep the electricity going. This will help to save a lot of natural resources that go into producing electricity. Moreover, you will end up saving thousands at the end of the year. Setting up the entire system of solar panels and connecting them to your existing electric lines may seem expensive, but the amount you save will cover the costs in a few months.
2) Zero plastic
That is the best way to contribute to a greener environment. If you frequently use plastic bin bags or polythene to carry groceries, stop immediately. You have no idea how harmful polythene is for the environment. If you need to use bags to carry groceries or similar items, try organic cotton mesh bags. These biodegradable bags will dissolve in the soil even if you throw them away. Wowe Lifestyle, for one, is one of the renowned companies selling these bags at affordable prices.
3) Dual pane windows
It is incredible how small changes in your house can make it eco-friendly. You don’t always have to purchase expensive gadgets to make your home energy efficient. Installing dual pane windows with low emittance will make your cooling and heating systems highly energy efficient in the long run. They will use lesser energy, and the windows will also block UV rays too.
4) LED lighting
Considering you could not install solar panels in your house. What options do you have to consume significantly less electrical energy? LED lights are the answer. They consume ten times less energy than conventional lights.
5) Install a rainwater harvesting system
You don’t have to follow the entire system that factories usually follow. Just make sure you have a significantly big container in the backyard that connects to your home’s water system. This will help to use rainwater instead of using fresh water every day. Most houses have water filters. So, you can have them to ensure that you don’t use low-quality water ever.
6) Energy star appliances
Home appliances have star ratings on them. The number of stars denotes better energy efficiency. So, when you buy a five-star air conditioner, it means the AC will consume less energy than a two-star or three-star AC. The same goes for other electronic gadgets also.
Building an eco-friendly house doesn’t necessarily mean you should live in a bamboo home. It’s how you contribute to a greener environment that matters. If you live in an eco-friendly house, but smoke cigarettes outside, you are not contributing to the noble cause. So, you should not only rethink your strategies about the house but also your lifestyle to bring a change.
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This content is sponsored by Jim Bevin.
Photo: Shutterstock