house in countryside with solar panel

Zero-waste living feels like an overwhelming objective. But keep in mind that it is an end-goal. Meaning, there are gradual steps that you can take to achieve it eventually. Here are ways to create an eco-friendly home.

If you want to get started with your zero-waste journey, here are nine things you should check out:

Look for LEED certification

If you’re buying a new house or constructing a home, you should look for a LEED certification if eco-friendliness is important to you.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as sustainable will have this LEED certification.

If you’re purchasing a new home, you might want to look for that LEED certification. If you’re building from the ground up, look for contractors specializing in LEED-certified infrastructures.

Wall and Roof Insulation

When creating an eco-friendly home, invest in the type of insulation that your walls and roof should have. That’s because the right kind of insulation will be more effective and efficient.

Effective insulation means that you won’t have to spend so much money regulating the temperature inside your house. One type of insulation that is great for your walls is cellulose type insulation.

This insulation is more effective and can better fill in gaps in the wall. For the roof, you also want high-quality insulation to ensure that energy doesn’t escape through it.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Many households spend quite a bit of money every year on their temperature controlling system in the house. That’s why it might be a good idea to look for alternative ways to control indoor temperature or conditions throughout the year.

One great way to control indoor conditions is through geothermal heating and cooling. This technology utilizes nature to help you get the indoor temperature conditions that are most comfortable for you at any time of the year. It also helps that these systems usually last for around 20 years.

Dual Pane, Low-Emittance Windows

Energy efficiency is an integral part of having an eco-friendly home. Since people are becoming conscious about sustainability, they’ve also started looking for energy-efficient home solutions.

One solution to keep the home more energy-efficient is by improving the windows. You can get dual-pane or double-glazed windows to make your home more energy-efficient.

Aside from energy efficiency, these windows can also help provide sound insulation. Thus, you have multiple benefits in one.

Depending on where you live, there are likely various companies that install double glazed windows. You have to figure out which companies you prefer based on the benefits and the features that come with the service, as well as customer reviews. Make sure that you contact someone reputable to ensure that you’re getting legitimate services.

Solar Panels

Solar panels are an excellent way to create an eco-friendly home while benefiting you monetarily in the long run. Although they may require a steep initial investment, the long-term benefits are well worth it. Plus, if you have a surplus of energy, your electricity provider can pay you for it.

Recently, moreover, solar panels have become a lot more affordable for residential homes, so it’s a lot more feasible to get one.

Recycled Materials

When building your house, make sure that you use recycled materials. Often, builders have to procure new materials to construct homes.

However, this takes quite a bit of our natural resources that take a while to replenish. That’s why, as much as possible, you might want to use recycled materials in your home.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Another solution that you should apply to create a more eco-friendly home is energy-efficient light fixtures. If you have old bulbs around the house, it may be time to replace them. Instead of the same ones, replace them with CFLs or Compact Fluorescent Lights.

These light bulbs are more efficient because they provide the same light level or even better without using up more energy. Furthermore they last a lot longer, so you won’t have to replace them for a while.

Energy Star-Rated Appliances

When shopping for appliances, look for ones that are Energy Star-rated. These are energy-efficient appliances so that you won’t be spending so much money on energy usage for them. Aside from that, these Energy Star-rated appliances are quite attractive to look at, so you’ll love having them in your house.

Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to control the indoor temperature of their house. They’re a lot more flexible, as they enable you to control which parts of the house to cool or warm. They also help reduce costs due to heating and cooling.

The nine items listed above are energy-efficient home solutions that you might want to apply to create an eco-friendly home. However, you do not have to apply these changes all in one go. Apply one solution that your resources may allow before moving on to another.

We hope you found this blog post 9 Features to Look For in Your Next Eco-Friendly Home useful. Be sure to check out our post Top 5 Ways to Reduce Your Home’s Environmental Impact for more great tips!


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