3 Green Changes That Homeowners Are Embracing

Homeowners haven’t always been the first to dive into the green revolution. Also, some changes aren’t necessarily green per se, but still, provide workarounds without requiring major infrastructure alterations.  

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Here are three green moves that homeowners are embracing for the future. 

Solar Power: Eco-friendly Power at their Fingertips

Not everyone wishes to be dependent on the power grid. Depending on the region, it may not be as reliable as one would like. It’s to be expected that there will be more interruptions as the spate of erratic weather conditions continues to be tracked by meteorologists. Strong winds, greater rainfall, and other atmospheric variations mean power grids come under pressure. 

A switch to solar power is now possible due to the increasing affordability of this technology combined with economies of scale on manufacturing, which is reducing setup costs considerably. Even at a point where it’s a wash between the cost per kilowatt from the energy supplier versus the average cost per kilowatt over the lifetime of a solar system, the environmental benefits are often the deciding factor. 

While green energy production at power companies is a thing, it’s not fully adopted, which results in more fossil fuels being used to generate electricity. Solar energy at the residence is still the greener alternative.

Water Management: Controlling Water Hardness and Deliverability

To reduce the reliance on a water utility, some homeowners have a well. A well pump is capable of pulling the water up as needed and ensures there’s an ample supply of drinkable H2O, even if a local water pipe has burst and water is overflowing in the street.

Without the convenient option of a well, it’s necessary to rely on the supply from the local water utility in which case, managing the level of hardness in the water by using whole house water filters is the answer.

Hard water has heavy deposits of calcium (and other minerals), which can dry out the skin and add scale to water faucets too. Using salt-based filters deals with this issue without the need of using strong chemicals that could otherwise get into the wastewater. 

Other Eco-friendly Practices

Environmentally conscious practices are now used more in the home than in earlier years. However, it’s also being embraced by businesses. Not just because management teams believe in it but also because customers and/or employees like being associated with a business that cares about the environment as much as they do.

For homeowners, the first step is usually to swap out old florescent bulbs for eco-bulbs. These last longer, use less energy, and while still having a higher sticker price, their cost over the full usage period is lower. Simple acts like turning off appliances when not using them reduce energy dependence as well. Also, keen gardeners are using tools made from reclaimed wood or buying previously owned tools to reduce the impact of the level of forest harvesting. 

As green solutions become more readily available and affordable as mass production follows changes in homeowners’ buying practices, the decision to go green across the board is much easier. This can be good news for the environment and green product producers too. 

Also, read 3 Appliances You Must Have For A Greener Home