There are a number of environmentally friendly homes tips you can use in order to make your home more energy efficient. The good news is that the U.S. Government is offering incentives in the form of tax credits for energy efficient windows for those who want to go green. This is all the more reason to use a number of methods to make your home more energy efficient.
One of the first steps towards in making environmentally friendly homes is to monitor your electricity consumption. You may come across a number of old appliances that are just wasting energy. In a majority of cases, gadgets and appliances are responsible for 20% of what you have to pay on your energy bill. If you can replace older gadgets with newer, more energy efficient ones ,you can save that 20% and put it to work elsewhere.
You might also have to make some drastic changes around your home in order to improve overall efficiency. This may require some remodeling. You might, for instance, add a much more secure garage door that does not allow air to escape from your home or want to use a foam pipe for insulation around water and drain pipes.
Consider installing more energy efficient and green technologies such as solar heating systems. You can improve the insulation of your home by sealing your rooms from unwanted drafts. This will reduce the cost of your heating bill and will also help you retain warmth in your rooms during winter and keep cool air in during the summer. This alone can have a drastic effect in creating environmentally friendly homes.
The Fafco PN760 Hot2o Solar Hot Water Heating System For Electric Water Heaters are carried by the Faucet Direct Company. For gas water heater option, the model PN760-1 is available. The hot2o can take care of up to 50% of the hot water used by a standard residential home. It comes with a 3 year warranty and is friendly to the environment. Install energy efficient heating systems and water systems. If you are using gas or oil, try using a condensing boiler to heat your water. You can also use solar heaters which are pretty inexpensive and they do a great job of heating your water without wasting much energy. This alone can save you a lot of money in terms of energy expenses.