7 Environment-Friendly Home Upgrades To Consider

Posted By: Sarah Schwartz

7 Environment-Friendly Home Upgrades To Consider

There are many reasons to make your home eco-friendly. The most important of them all is the need to protect the planet. But in addition to reducing greenhouse emissions, the environment-friendly upgrade can make your house more functional and valuable.  

Most St Johns County new construction homes are eco-friendly by design. However, you can still transform your old home to meet these standards. 

Simple, Low-Cost Changes To Make Your Home Environment Friendly

Here are some practical improvements you can make to your Saint Johns Country Club homes for sale to get them to this level. 

1. Repaint the eco-friendly way. 

Most paints we use in home construction nowadays affect the air quality adversely. The risks are even more significant with paints containing lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, opting for a new eco-friendly paint job can protect you and your family from these dangers. It can also increase the resale value of your home if you work with a realtor in St Johns to discuss the right paint color and type. 

2. Switch to efficient light bulbs. 

Incandescent bulbs are regular features in older homes. These bulbs are not only energy guzzlers but also difficult to replace when they burn out. The better and environment-friendly alternative is the modern, efficient LED bulbs. Introducing these bulbs can help you save more in energy costs, considering they use about 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs. 

3. Ceiling fans are great. 

Aside from improving your home aesthetics, installing ceiling fans in your space ensures the adequate circulation of warm and cold air in the winter and summer months, respectively. There are tons of energy-efficient ceiling fan models out there. The best part? They are not expensive. Your Jacksonville realtor can provide some valuable recommendations. 

4. Consider energy-efficient appliances. 

Depending on your budget, you can replace old appliances like stoves, washers, dryers, and refrigerators with new, improved, and energy-efficient models. This replacement helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly. These appliances are also more efficient regarding energy and water use, helping you lower utility bills.  

5. Install natural flooring

Manufacturers are shifting to the use of green materials in making eco-friendly flooring. For example, we now have green bamboo floorings, natural linoleum floorings, and other sustainable wood floorings with high aesthetic values and zero adverse environmental effects. Installing these types of flooring will make your St Johns Shearwater homes for sale more attractive and valuable to potential buyers.

6. Install solar power systems

Solar power systems are now one of the most popular ways to access clean, pure renewable energy.  You can make it your only energy source or combine it with electricity to augment your home’s energy needs. Why solar? They are safer, eco-friendly, and more efficient. And with more utility companies offering credits to homeowners with solar panels, you can even earn some credit from selling your excess energy. 

7. Install a cool roof. 

The dark, heat-absorbing and non-reflective roofs used in most U.S. homes are not environment-friendly. They overheat the home in the summer and heat scarcely in the winter.  Cool roofs are designed to reflect sunlight better and absorb less heat. Your space can stay 50% cooler with these roofs, reducing how much you spend on air conditioning. Cool roofs also help to keep areas of your home not served by the air conditioning cooler, especially the attic and garage. 

In Conclusion

More than that, embarking on environment-friendly home improvement projects can fix current issues, improve your living space, and make your home more valuable. The recommended upgrades in this blog are an excellent way to start. 

If you are unsure how to start or everything seems overwhelming, feel free to consult a reputable St Johns relator. At Sarah Schwartz Group, we are always committed to working with homeowners to realize their home improvement dreams. Reach out today if you are looking to upgrade your Saint Johns, Florida homes for sale.