Eco-friendly home improvement is becoming an increasingly popular trend for homeowners looking to reduce energy bills and costs, but many improvements require an initial investment.
Financial options to assist your eco home renovation can include the residential PACE program, rebates and financing solutions like personal loans.
1. Upgrade Your Appliances
Swapping out old appliances for eco-friendly versions is one of the best ways to reduce energy usage. Look out for Energy Star certifications indicating compliance with EPA sustainability standards as well as LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Economic Design) accreditation.
Other eco-friendly upgrades that make a difference include installing smart technology like Google Nest Thermostats that learn your household habits and automatically save energy, or upgrading lighting with LED bulbs which consume 80%-90% less power than their counterparts.
Many states, localities and utility companies provide financing programs or tax credits for eco-friendly home improvements. Some projects may qualify for Residential PACE program financing solutions to finance energy-saving upgrades upfront.
2. Insulate Your Home
Insulation is an integral component of eco-friendly living. It helps lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while protecting you and your family from pollutants. Plus, insulation adds value to your home – which could be a huge attraction for potential buyers!
There are various forms of insulation to consider when choosing eco-friendly insulation for your house, but one eco-friendly choice that stands out is cellulose insulation made from recycled newspaper and paper waste that would otherwise have ended up in landfills and produced harmful greenhouse gasses.
Eco-friendly alternatives such as hemp insulation are an eco-friendly and safe alternative to fiberglass, offering resistance against rats and pests while not emitting any toxic chemicals into the environment during production or disposal.
3. Upgrade Your Lighting
Switching to LED bulbs is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to green up your home, as they consume 75% less electricity while outliving traditional bulbs 25 times longer – helping save on electricity bills while simultaneously decreasing waste in landfills.
Other eco-friendly upgrades that can dramatically cut energy costs include switching out old appliances with more energy-efficient models and installing a programmable thermostat. Both will save money when it comes to heating and cooling costs as well as waste from spoilt food or water supplies.
As part of their efforts to assist homeowners in making eco-friendly changes, many local governments and utilities offer financing programs and rebates; you could even take out personal loans for some improvements.
4. Paint or Wallpaper Your Walls
If you’re in search of home improvements that will have long-lasting impacts, adding eco-friendly paint or wallpaper might just do the trick. Both options can easily make an impressionful statement about who you are as an individual while simultaneously improving the environment around you.
Wallpaper and paint both come in an assortment of colors and styles, so it should be easy to find something to meet your aesthetic. Paint is generally cheaper than wallpaper, as well as easier to maintain than its textured counterpart, which traps airborne toxins.
Professional realtors frequently advise repainting as an effective way to increase curb appeal in a home for potential buyers and refresh the space! Plus, it can be done quickly and affordably!
5. Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are an excellent investment both for your home and for the planet. By decreasing reliance on fossil fuels that harm our global ecology and cause pollution in local communities, adding solar panels will not only help the environment but also save money on electricity bills.
Energy inefficiencies often stem from seemingly minor issues like drafty windows or inadequate insulation, but fixing these problems is quick and simple; even an easy DIY project like wrapping hot water pipes in foam insulation can significantly boost energy efficiency.
Green upgrades may be more expensive than some upgrades, but their initial investment can often be offset with tax credits and rebates that make eco-friendly renovations within reach for more homeowners. To reduce costs even further, Prosper offers personal loans for eco-friendly projects to help fund them at an affordable rate.
