If you haven’t already, it’s time to get on board with the green movement that’s taking over the country. More than a trend, this movement has become a way of life for many Americans. With your home being just as much a part of your family, it deserves the proper care in order to continue to protect both you and your family.
Tip #1: Replace your home’s windows
With colder weather approaching, it’s important to find ways to help insulate your home. The perfect way to start is by replacing your windows. While a window may look esthetically sound, it can actually be creating major problems. Old windows can cause drafts or block sunrays, driving up utility bills. To help solve this problem, DiGiorgi offers Infinity from Marvin, a line of replacement windows and doors, partially made from recycled materials. This energy-efficient window line qualifies for the Energy Star rating in all U.S. regions, and is LEED-certified. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy-efficient products can save between 15 to 25% on monthly heating and cooling bills.
Tip #2: Reside your home’s exterior
The benefits of upgrading to a quality siding go well beyond eliminating the daunting task of painting your home. Wood siding and old vinyl siding can cause moisture damage, leading to mold and rot. To prevent these problems, install Apex Ultrex siding system. Apex siding is a sustainable siding product, because the fiberglass-based product is primarily made from sand, an abundant natural resource. Along with not conducting heat or cold, Apex siding is low maintenance, eliminating the cost of painting and caulking.
Tip #3: Replace your roof
When it comes time to replace your home’s roof, consider metal shingles instead of traditional asphalt shingles. Stoneshield Stone Coated Metal Shingles are Energy Star certified. Depending on the color of the metal, this roofing option can reflect 25 to 60% of the sun’s energy, making for a cooler attic. This environmentally friendly product is also low maintenance and 100% recyclable. Tests have shown metal roofing to save homeowners up to 40% on cooling costs, and last three to four times longer than asphalt.
Tip #4: Install dimmers on lights
How many times have you turned on a light and then walked out of the room? If your household is over consuming electricity, it’s time to install a dimmer for your switches. Annually, 20% of a household’s annual electricity usage comes from lights. Changing just one light switch to a Lutron dimmer can provide an estimated 40% in electricity saving, an extended bulb life of up to 10 years, and create an annual savings of nearly $30. Lutron’s website has an online calculator to calculate your annual saving depending on the type of bulb, wattage, and number of bulbs that you convert to a dimmer switch.
Tip #5: Use Low or No-VOC paint
When it comes to renovating the interior of your home, nothing spruces up a room in a more inexpensive way than a fresh coat of paint. When you choose a brand, look for one that has low or no-VOC emissions. These harmful emissions can cause eye and skin irritation, as well as lung and kidney damage. Benjamin Moore Natura Paint is rated to have the lowest total VOC emissions than any of its national competitors, by independent third party testing. Natura is odor-free and does not release a significant level of pollutants. Available in any color, users can go green without compromising on the quality of the product.
