Make Your Home Green for Long-Term Savings | Green Living Real ...

If you just purchased your home, you probably have quite a long list of improvements you want to make to the property in the coming years. Although there?s a steep initial cost for some projects, you can actually save money in the long run by going green as you make home improvements and minor repairs. You can also make minor adjustments at home that will result in significant savings.

Following are some of the latest trends in green home design.

1. Appliances: Many homes these days have outdated appliances that use a great deal more energy than their newer counterparts. Purchasing a new appliance with an Energy Star rating for efficiency saves you money on a regular basis as you pay your bills. For example, consider getting a new front-loading washing machine, which uses less water and costs a lot less to run than an older top-loading model. You may also want to?consider gas ranges, which heat up more quickly than electric ones and use natural gas, a fuel source that?s more dependable than electricity.

2. HVAC: Older air conditioners and furnaces can waste a lot of the energy, so if your house has an older model in need of significant repairs, consider replacing it instead so you can start saving money on utility bills by using a newer model. Change filters regularly and perform annual maintenance to keep your heating and cooling systems in top shape. In addition, install a programmable thermostat to help you adjust the temperature throughout the day. You can significantly cut energy use by giving your air conditioner or furnace a break while you?re out of the house and setting it to turn back on right before you get back.

3. Lighting: As old incandescent light bulbs in your home burn out, switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. Technological advances in recent years have made these produce much more pleasant spectrums of light, so you probably won?t notice the difference in general use. However, you will notice that they usually last at least 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use less energy to operate. Turning lights off when you?re not using them can stretch your savings even more.

4. Cleaning: Green cleaning methods are easy to implement and make a big impact on the environment by limiting the number of hazardous chemicals you release into the air or wash into sewer systems. You can clean most parts of your home with baking soda and vinegar. The baking soda is abrasive and deodorizes, while the white vinegar acts as a disinfectant. These natural cleaners are inexpensive and can be used for most jobs around the house. Plus, because natural cleaners are non-toxic, they?re a good choice for homes with small children or pets.

Each of these eco-friendly upgrades uses energy wisely, generates few pollutants and overall has a minimal impact on the environment. The investment is often well worth the cost because you?ll save in the future, and you?ll have the satisfaction of knowing you?re doing your part to protect the environment.

Holly is an Indianapolis native who flips houses with her father and loves running and anything soccer-related. In her spare time, she enjoys blogging on behalf of Sears and other brands she trusts.

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