Top 6 Green Home Improvement Projects

Many homeowners want to make their homes more environmentally friendly. This is partially driven by a sense of moral rightness. However, for many, it is also driven by a desire to cut down costs. Utility bills can be sky-high. Some investments today in improving your home’s “greenness” can net major returns down the right.

1) Caulk Cracks

As you may expect, your home’s draftiness affects how energy efficient it is. Many homes, especially older ones, have small cracks and other openings. Sealing these can have a significant effect on your home’s energy efficiency.

Look around your windows and doors for cracks and gaps. Then inspect your walls, especially near the ground and roof, for openings. Finally, seal up those holes with caulk or another filling material. This job can be done by even the most novice DIYer and can net some significant benefits right away.

2) Add a Programmable Thermostat

As another easy green project, switch your thermostat for a programmable one. You don’t necessarily need to invest in a fancy, internet-connected one. Simply having one that can be programmed with different temperatures based on the time of day can make a big difference.

Of course, you can also go all the way with a smart thermostat. Doing so can let you control your home’s temperature remotely. Some can detect when your phone is present and turn down the heating or cooling when you leave. This is an easy project for anyone and can pay off quickly in reduced electricity usage. That is good news for the environment and for your wallet.

3) Install Solar Panels

If you want to do something a little more complicated, consider installing roof solar panels. These can generate electricity for your home in a more environmentally friendly way. If you live in a very sunny area, they can also absorb some of the solar heat that would be simply heating up your home otherwise. So, they can help you be more energy efficient in two ways.

Depending on your electricity provider, you may be able to get a credit or even a check back if you produce excess energy. That is a pretty great deal.

If you don’t want to have electricity-generating panels, you can also heat your water using solar power. This simpler mechanism captures and directs the heat from the sun to heat your water.

4) Switch to a Tankless Water Heater

Do you have a water heater tank? Think of all that water you are keeping hot for when you eventually need it. Unsurprisingly, that is wasting a lot of energy. Not only are you paying to keep all that water heated but it is also likely being heated with fossil fuels courtesy of your electric company.

In other words, switching to a better system is a win-win. A tankless heater provides on-demand hot water, heating it using a heat exchanger. That takes much less energy to give you the hot water you want.

5) Install a Drain Heat Recovery System

Are you pouring money down the drain? If you let your hot water escape without capturing the heat from it, you are. A heat recovery system sits at the end of your drainpipe and collects energy. You can then use that energy to heat more water or generate electricity for your home. The environmentalism motto is “reduce, reuse and recycle.” Why not reuse your hot water energy?

6) Collect Rainwater

Setting up a system to reclaim rainwater may be simpler than you think. All you need to do is set up a collection at the bottom of your gutter. Then, simply filter out the larger contaminants such as leaves and dirt. You can use this water in your garden or for other cleaning needs. Alternatively, filter the water even more and use it as drinking water.

These strategies can help make your home eco-friendlier this year. Better yet, many of these DIY projects can be done with very little skill. Others can be done relatively inexpensively with professional help.

6 FAQs About Home Security, Remodeling, and New Additions

While homeowners once packed up their possessions and moved on the average of once every five years, the modern trend is to stay put and use the money to remodel the home you live into a bigger, better structure that is more of what you want. Taking out a wall, expanding a closet, or building a deck can add livable room to your home, but it can also fill your home with plaster dust, construction noise, and grumpy construction workers. Before you decide to change your home, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about home security, remodeling, and new additions.

1. Do you need a permit to have a security alarm system in your home?

Many city governments require any security system with a loud alarm in a neighborhood with homes surrounding the building to have an alarm permit. There are differences between fire, break-in, and police alarms, so check with your local city or county to see what permits and alarm licenses are necessary if you decide to install a noisy alarm to scare burglars or notify of home intrusion.

2. Do home security systems really deter criminals?

Several studies have been done that show burglars do look for homes without security systems, especially security cameras. While having someone take your items may make you sad, the sense that someone broke into your home can violate your trust in the building and your home’s ability to protect you. According to incarcerated burglars, more than 60 percent reported that homes with security systems were left alone.

3. Is there an organization that regulates home security companies?

No, there is no central organization that regulates all home security companies. However, each state has a regulatory board with licensing and permits that must be secured before that company can do business within the state.

4. What alternatives do I have to a home security system?

Whether you’re unable to purchase a home security system or are in need of further improving your sense of home safety and security, you can do no wrong by looking to your community for support. Groups of neighborhoods and residences often form support systems to establish a sense of community and create a safe environment for children and loved ones. You can read more about how neighborhood watch groups operate through the resources gathered by our friends at Porch, and learn of all the added benefits that occur when members of a community come together.

5. When remodeling, if I want to add solar panels, how many do I need to purchase?

It may surprise you that one of the most frequently asked questions about solar power is: how many solar panels to power a house or addition? The answer is that there is no certain amount, rather it depends on the number of people living in the home, how much electricity is consumed each day, and what your average weather conditions are.

6. Is it better to build up or build out when creating an addition?

The simple answer is based on the size of your yard and how much of it you can give up without compromising the ability to sell your home in the future. Building out requires the loss of parts of your yard while building up (often over a garage or above your home), allows you to keep your backyard. There is no right or wrong answer, but you must check with the zoning regulations of your city or county before deciding.

7. What problems are associated with remodeling projects?

Other than the dust, noise, and inconvenience of having workers running through your home for about 12 hours a day? Depending on the room you are remodeling, the area of your home altered by the building, and how much disruption the remodeling will do to your home, you should be prepared for a modicum of disturbance that you don’t expect, and a great deal that you do. For example, if you are remodeling the kitchen, be prepared to eat out for the four to six weeks it takes to tear down and rebuild the room. Also, consider the health of your animals with strange people constantly moving about.

Your home may be your castle, but when you want to remodel, improve, or add security to the structure, it can be disruptive to your home life. If you are prepared, the transition can be much easier. So, whether you choose to add a security system, solar panels, or remodel a room, you can be assured you are prepared for the project and all the problems it may entail.