Who Said It’s Not Easy Being Green? Eco-Friendly Homes in Nashville
It's Not Easy Being Green!
Yep, we all know who said it. I think we can safely say he wasn’t talking about environmentally friendly living. And, Kermit, it IS easy being green! There are simple things we can all do in our own homes to be more energy efficient and eco-friendly. More and more homes in Nashville are using eco-friendly and energy saving materials. If everyone takes these small steps toward environmentally friendly living, it will make a world of difference.
Energy efficient windows New insulated windows are an excellent way to conserve energy. These windows may have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the window panes to reduce drafts.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs This is such an easy way to conserve energy, no one has an excuse to not put forth the effort. Most home improvement stores carry these bulbs, which use 70 percent less energy than regular bulbs and can save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime.
Eco-friendly flooring Bamboo, cork and eucalyptus flooring products are all excellent choices for the home as they are sustainable alternatives to the slower growing hardwoods. These products mature in roughly half the time that it takes hardwoods to grow. Not only are these options eco-friendly, they can also make any floor look beautiful and stylish.
ENERGY STAR® products Updating your kitchen?—Consider purchasing ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances. Qualified refrigerators, dishwashers and vent fans incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models. Just look for the Energy Star when shopping for your new appliances.
Tankless water heaters Selecting a more efficient and correctly sized water heater also will save you money. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it, which reduces or eliminates standby losses. Replacing an electric water heater with a solar model can reduce costs by up to 80 percent a year. Tankless water heaters have become popular not only because they are energy efficient, but they save space as well.
More efficient toilets New toilets have been redesigned to use less water but function more efficiently than first-generation low-flow models. In the average home, flushing toilets accounts for some 30 percent of water usage. New efficient models can reduce that use up to 25 percent.
Home insulation There are multiple types of insulation to install in order to save energy. Check your local hardware store to find what type works best for your home. A well-insulated home is the perfect way to cut down on energy usage which will help the earth and your wallet.
Let’s all work together to make our Nashville homes a little more environmentally friendly. A lot of people doing just a small part can make a huge difference. As I view homes in Nashville for sale, I see that the trend seems to be catching on.
I want to carefully guide my clients through the process of buying and/or selling, while offering them the tools they need in order to make informed decisions. Call me to schedule a showing or an appointment: 615-714-3665 or visit my site: www.YourNashvilleHomeFinder.com
