From Guest Blogger Kara Masterson: Greener Home–Five Ways for Homeowners to Go Green in 2018

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to become more environmentally conscious, then you will want to find new ways to have a green home this year. Here are five ways to create a property that will use less energy along with protecting the environment from pollution.

Improve Your Property’s Landscaping

By making changes to your property’s landscaping, you can keep a home warmer or cooler in different seasons. A professional landscaper understands how to plant trees and shrubs strategically to keep the hot sunlight off of a building or to keep the cold winds from hitting your home. Another excellent reason for adding a variety of plants to your lawns is to increase the oxygen levels around your home along with reducing the pollutants in the earth’s atmosphere.

Install Solar Panels on Your Home’s Rooftop

If you want to avoid using natural gas or electricity, then install solar panels on your home’s rooftop. Modern solar panels are easy to install, and you can perform this task on your own, or you can hire a technician for the job. With solar-powered energy, you can reduce your reliance on energy sources that create pollution along with saving money each month on your utility bills.

Make Your Own Household Cleansers

When you don’t want to pollute the earth’s water, you can stop using dangerous household chemicals. Some of the cleansers found at local stores contain man-made chemicals that can damage the environment. However, you can create your own household cleansers by using safer nontoxic ingredients such as white vinegar, baking soda or essential oils. One of the easiest ways to make a natural cleanser is by using an empty spray bottle to mix the substances with your favorite scent of essential oil.

Use Less Water in Your Home

In addition to installing low-flow faucets in your bathroom and kitchen, you can reduce your water usage in other ways. Learn how to reuse some of the water in your home such as collecting bathwater in a bucket to pour over the plants in your vegetable or flower garden. You can also reduce the number of times that you flush a toilet, or you can install a modern composting toilet that doesn’t require any water.

Buy New Energy-Efficient Windows for Your Home

If you have ancient single-pane windows at your home, then it is time to upgrade to newer energy-efficient windows from a company like Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin or someone similar. Windows that have multiple layers of panes will have air between each layer so that a home remains cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. When your windows are replaced, the technicians will measure precisely in order to create window frames that seal out high winds and moisture.

Consider Your Own Budget

If you have a strict budget for making changes to your home, then plan to make upgrades one at a time. In some cases, you can complete updates to your home on your own to save money.