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Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

How to Increase Your Home’s Resale Value While Staying Eco-Friendly

April 20, 2021 2

When you want to improve the value of your home, making eco-friendly upgrades will increase the value and provide you with a healthier environment for family and friends. Below are some ideas to consider to help improve the resale value of your home.

Figure What Is In Your Budget

Figure out what is in your budget before you begin to remodel. Homeowners often spend between 5,000 to 10,000 dollars to make changes to their homes. This was the standard amount spent in 2018 by consumers. Even if you do not have thousands to spend you can make small improvements that will improve the sustainability of your home. Try to decide what you want to improve before tackling the project Do you want to install energy-efficient appliances, add a tank-less water heater, paint the inside walls with eco-friendly paint made from natural materials, landscaping, and energy-efficient exterior doors. For major upgrades, you should contact local contractors that specialize in eco-friendly remodeling and installation.

Install Energy-Efficient Exterior Doors

Replacing outdated exterior doors on the house will save you money on your energy bills. The doors that you enter or exit the house should be energy efficient. This can save you 10% on your heating and cooling bills. Energy-efficient outer doors made from fiberglass save the most energy. Fiberglass looks like real wood and is designed for cold climates and humidity. Steel doors are stronger and wear well in dry climates. Unless you are handy, it is better to hire a contractor to install them. Steel doors can be insulated to retain heat and stay cooler in the warm weather. Double glass panes are often installed to reduce heat flow and magnetic strips reduce leakage of air in the house.

Make Your Landscaping Eco-friendly

Investing in hiring a landscaper improves the value of your home. If you are an experienced gardener, you can do the work yourself. Native plants from a local garden center grow better and use less water. Invest in planting native flowers, herbs, and vegetables in a small rain garden. A rain garden collects runoff water from your yard. Rain gardens attract butterflies and reduce soil erosion. Planting native trees and shrubs can help with cooling your home in the summer. Installing a drip irrigation system to water plants in the yard and lawn will cut the water bill by 50 percent.

Permeable pavers instead of concrete driveways and walkways allow water to go into the ground. Reusing stones and bricks for borders and wall counts are considered eco-friendly landscaping too. You should reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Test the soil it may just need organic compost that you can buy and the organic pesticide that uses natural substances and have a lower level of chemicals. Over 60% of potential home buyers say a well-landscaped property is one of the things they look for in a home.

Install A Tankless Water Heater

The benefit of installing a tankless water heater is it only will use water when you need it. It can save you 30 to 50 percent on fuel costs. This device works when you turn on the tap and sensors detect water coming into the heater that has to be heated. They range in price from about $200 to $2,000 depending on the size and are gas-fired or electric. They should be installed by a professional. The benefits are they produce instant hot water, some are Wi-Fi compatible, and in time save money on water and fuels. They are compact about the size of a suitcase and hang on the wall.

Upgrade to Green Appliances

Consider buying energy-efficient appliances when you replace older models. They are refrigerators, dishwashers, air conditioners, stoves, washers, and dryers. These Energy Star appliances will save you on water and electricity. They reduce pollution and create sustainability in the home. When you buy an energy-efficient dishwasher it uses less water and reduces your water bill by 25%. An Energy Star refrigerator will decrease your electric bill. Refrigerators are an appliance that uses more electricity than others appliances. Energy Star is a label that appliances get when they meet government regulations for energy efficiency and reducing the use of water and electricity. They can reduce utilities by about 30% in the home. A minor kitchen remodel will have an 82.7% return on your investment.

These are some ways to make the eco-friendly upgrade to your home for a healthier home environment.

Clever Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint This Summer

April 9, 2021 2

There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint in the summer months. You can exercise more and use the car less frequently, grow a garden, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and conserve energy using energy-saving devices. Below are some specific ideas of how your and your family can reduce your carbon footprint this season.

Try a New Mode Of Transportation

Just one gallon of gasoline emits tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Cut down on using your car this summer and walk and bike in your neighborhood instead. Think about walking to the mailbox instead of driving to the local post office to mail letters. When you drive somewhere and park, walk an extra few blocks rather than drive around to nearby destinations. You do not have to park as close as possible. Consider using the bus for local transportation, as choosing public transit can reduce the number of other vehicles on the street. There are over 6 million car accidents in the United States yearly, partially due to overcrowded roads. Choose local parks and trails in your state and walk and hike locally or enjoy taking a stroll around the block instead of a nightly drive to clear your head.

Not only do cars come with harmful emissions, but they can also be expensive to maintain. Around 96% of Subarus sold during the past decade are still on the road, which means many drivers may also have to deal with expensive vehicle maintenance to keep their cars operable. You can cut down on necessary repairs by ditching your car for a bike this summer whenever possible. Biking is a great way to exercise or get from point A to point B. If you live close to where you work, walking or biking to work in good weather can be a great way to burn calories, shed a sedentary lifestyle, and reduce your environmental impact. You can bike or walk in parks, local college campuses, the neighborhood, or in the heart of the city. Don’t forget to learn the safety rules and follow them when biking or walking. Walk and bike to places a few miles near your home to start; you might find you love it so much that you try not to take the car if you don’t have to!

Plan a Garden Or Grow Plants in Pots

Plant a garden this year and start growing some herbs and vegetables. Go to a local garden center and purchase native flowers, vegetables, and herbs. You should also stop using chemical pesticides and buy organic pesticides made from natural ingredients (or make your own at home!). While Oklahoma has over 540 common pests, they can be kept out of your garden in ways that won’t harm the surrounding environment if you stick to natural pesticides and insecticides. Your garden center can tell you how to care for the plants you buy. Buy plants for the deck or patio if you don’t have the time to care for a garden. You can use the vegetables and herbs you grow when cooking. This can help you reduce the environmental impact associated with purchasing groceries that come from far-away farms. You might even consider collecting water in a rain barrel to use to water the lawn and your plants at home, thus saving water!

Use a Programmable Thermostat and Fans to Reduce Energy Consumption

Installing a programmable thermostat will help you save on your electric bill when cooling the house. This handy device can increase or decrease the temperature, even when you’re not at home. Other ways to cool the house include closing the shutters, blinds, and shades during the day. You can also use a fan instead of an air conditioner or to supplement your AC. You might even think about switching to a green energy plan powered by renewable energy. Remember to unplug appliances you’re not using and cook on the outdoor grill instead of using the oven to reduce your overall energy consumption and to keep your home more comfortable throughout the hotter months.

Eat Local and Reduce Meat Consumption

This summer, shop at your local farmers’ market where they sell local produce grown in your region. You should always aim to buy seasonal produce, as it is less expensive and can be transported in a more environmentally-friendly way. You can always prepare your vegetables in large batches and freeze for later use to reduce waste. Find some new recipes for vegetable, fruit, and pasta salads or soups and try them out this summer. Be sure to try some new fruits and vegetables you have never eaten before every week. You can also reduce meat consumption in your diet, as the meat industry can be incredibly harmful to the environment.

These tips will help you reduce your carbon footprint and help you find a way to promote green and natural living in the warmer months.

Tips For Building an Eco-Friendly Home

March 19, 2021 2

Creating a residential place for your family does not necessarily aim so much at perfection but authenticity. With the current transformation and changes that have taken place in the global climate, individuals who wish to build a home should ensure the houses constructed do not make our environment worse. Moreover, embracing a natural lifestyle is very beneficial to the human body, spirit, and mind.

What is an Eco-Friendly Home?

Eco-friendly homes are those built using materials and technologies that do not harm the environment further. For instance, a home that relies on wind and solar energy falls into this category. The current trend is taking a positive turn, where we have seen many people going for environmentally-friendly houses. However, some lack the knowledge to create such buildings. This detailed article will inform you about the best ways to build an eco-friendly home, whether you are constructing from scratch or renovating an old one.

Choose Timeless Finishes

vYou don’t have to feel limited when it comes to the finish you apply to your home. You can use outstanding finishes without sacrificing the house’s aesthetics. Years back, people looked forward to warm and welcoming spaces. However, today, to achieve environmentally-friendly abodes, it is recommendable to yearn for safe spaces conscious of our lives on earth.

When it comes to the interior décor, choosing colors, styles, and designs that do not require regular changing is a wise idea. The finishes should have permanence for you. For instance, using a matte black tapware finish on your kitchen cabinets can help them last up to 50 years. Therefore, do not look at how classic the finish is as long as it is timeless to you and it will serve you for years to come.

Make Sure Everything is Built to Last

Choosing sustainable materials for your construction is not an option if you want to achieve an environmentally-responsible home. Besides the aesthetic appeal, cost and life cycle are the other considerations to make when choosing the materials. Additionally, consider how easy it is to reuse or recycle the material. If you cannot reuse it, then disposing of that material in the future should not negatively affect the environment.

Many factors dictate the durability of a particular material. If you plan on having an underground tank, for instance, you should know that its construction, installation, soil conditions, and maintenance affect its lifespan. However, it can typically last for 20 years or more. Besides sustainability and cost reduction, having suitable construction materials reduces your exposure to life-threatening organic compounds and pollutants significantly. Some wall coverings, paints, and carpeting release toxic compounds that tamper with the air quality inside a house.

Considering the many hours you will be spending at home, it is advisable to minimize toxins’ exposure by getting healthier material alternatives. Using construction materials sustainably means their present use will not interfere with future use by affecting the environment or running out. Very few materials meet this requirement, and they are the ones you should get if you want an eco-friendly home.

Focus on Smaller Projects to Be Green and On-Budget

Small houses are not only eco-friendly but also cost-effective. Besides occupying a small footprint, a smaller home can save you a lot on the materials required and the energy consumed to warm or cool it down. In 2018, a report showed that the average monthly housing cost was $1,566. That shows the more extensive the home, the more money you spend on it. Statistics show that the average number [of people in an American home has gone down from 3.8 to 2.6, yet the home sizes have ballooned over time.

People need to understand that these improper size-to-occupant ratios are bringing additional issues to our environment. If we desire to achieve green projects, we should be ready to adhere to a more solid square-footage-per-individual code. However, we also need to shift our focus from total house size to proper usage of resources and quality green projects.

5 Home Remedies That Actually Work

March 8, 2021 0

Many people want to know about natural home remedies that work for alleviating ailments and illnesses. For instance, kombucha, a natural fermented drink, can help kill harmful bacteria. There are other natural home remedies that work for alleviating pain and discomfort. Here are the top five to look into.

Honey

People in the U.S. get about one billion colds each year, and many people look for over-the-counter medicines to relieve their symptoms. However, they may already have a natural remedy in their kitchen cabinet. Research shows that honey is more effective at relieving cold symptoms such as a sore throat and a cough.

Tumeric

If you’re one of the 1 in 25 working-age adults in the United States who face work limitations attributed to arthritis, an ingredient in your spice rack may be able to help. Turmeric is a versatile spice from India that has been used to treat certain ailments for centuries, including arthritis. Research shows that turmeric can reduce rheumatoid arthritis inflammation. However, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider before adding a turmeric supplement to your treatment routine.

Ginger

Ginger has been shown to relieve nausea and vomiting, and also ease stomach cramps and bloating. It’s especially helpful for women experiencing pregnancy-related nausea. Before taking any, it’s best to contact your doctor to ask about adding ginger into your daily routine.

Cherry Juice

58 million people go to a gym or health club each year, which means millions of people may be dealing with sore muscles. After a particularly tough workout, reach for cherry juice. Cherry juice has been shown to help with sore muscles, as well as reducing pain and inflammation. It’s filled with rich antioxidants that relieve pain, the most effective one being anthocyanins. Ask your doctor about incorporating raw cherry juice into your diet if your muscles are frequently sore.

Peppermint

Peppermint can bring relief for many illnesses and ailments. It can help manage the pain of headaches and migraines, clear clogged sinuses, and ease upset stomachs. It can also freshen your breath and help you sleep better. Many people drink peppermint tea because it can help alleviate these symptoms.

There are a number of natural home remedies that can alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. While it may be tempting to automatically start using these remedies in your normal routine, you should talk to your doctor about using these remedies, especially if you’re on certain medications. They’ll tell you if they’re safe to use.

5 Sustainable Exterior Features That Make Your Home Safer

March 8, 2021 0

On the topic of your garden, you will want to make it noisy to prevent intruders from slipping into your home without making a noise. Home security is often about giving thieves plenty of reasons not to bother breaking in. Simple steps such as a noisy gravel driveway and motion-triggered lighting in your front garden can make thieves think twice before getting any closer. This can also help to alert tenants if someone is approaching the home while they’re inside. You could also increase the number of plants or eco-features you have to make your home look busy and like the homeowners are always there. Overgrown trees, plants, and other lawn and garden features give these people the perfect hiding places to monitor your home and eventually break-in. Trimming back trees and bushes and regularly cutting the grass that surrounds a property will make it less likely that your home will become a target, and improve your peace of mind.

Solar-powered lights

Your home’s external structure and features are the most effective for keeping your home safe in any weather. No matter if you live in a country with a mild climate or somewhere with extreme weather, it is always good to be prepared. For those who are often concerned about the safety of their home, it is time to install some sustainable features that make your home safer. Here are five ideas every home can utilize. 

Metal rain gutters

Rain gutters are often made from plastic. Instead, you can spend a little more and get a sustainable material that will also last a lot longer. You could think of rain gutters working in a similar way to internal plumbing. They help regulate the water. Instead, they regulate and keep your roof free from rainwater and snow. Replacing your gutters can be an unfortunate expense, but it can provide an environmental opportunity because the way you handle your roof’s water is important. Consider linking your gutters to a “rooftop catchment system” that captures rainwater in a cistern or rain barrels and can then be used to water non-edible plantings.

Install new windows

The majority of criminals break into a property through doors and windows. Thus, new and secure openings are key. All windows should be fitted with locks that can be operated from the inside, particularly on the ground and first floor. It’s also important to make sure you close and lock any windows when you are going out, especially in the summer when windows are often left open throughout the day. For sustainable windows, choose double glazing. Double glazed windows help regulate heat and lower the need for heating or airconditioning. Double glazed windows enhance your home’s safety as well as make it more energy-efficient. 

Get your garden secure

If you have an open garden, front and/or back, you may want to think about heightening its security features. A locked fence can keep out intruders. A recycled metal or wooden fence is the best option for a sustainable home. A locked gate may be easy to climb over but it’s hard to do so without drawing unwanted attention. If someone’s having to clamber into your garden, they’re probably not supposed to be there. Sheds and garages are full of tools, vehicles, and other valuables – some of which can be used to gain access to your home

Any doors which can’t be locked using a key should be secured using a bulky padlock and all keys should be kept in the house. Landlords should work with their tenants to make sure they understand the potential risks and how to keep their garden secure.

Create a noisy garden 

Installing proper lighting systems inside and outside a home acts as a powerful deterrent and most burglars will avoid homes that are always well lit. You have a wide range of security lighting systems to choose from. Some are controlled by timers while others are activated when they detect motion inside and outside your home. If the light is always on or comes on with movement, intruders are much less likely to interfere with your home.

There are many sustainable ways to heighten your home’s safety and security through external features. It could be as simple as installing a new rain gutter to prevent water buildup, which will enhance its structural safety. Or, install new lights that detect motion and scare off potential intruders.

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