Four sustainable housing fixtures for a sustainable home

People are more environmentally conscious in today’s modern world. People are beginning to understand the impact their carbon footprint is having on the planet. The way we consume has an environmental cost, which is why we need to use products that reduce pollution. One of the best ways to reduce our energy consumption is to build homes with the environment in mind. Sustainable living is a popular option for homeowners and it lowers energy bills. Building a sustainable home is all about installing the right fittings throughout the home. That means using energy-saving materials in the walls, in the sanitary area and installing stylish and energy-efficient lights and windows. Here are a few things you can do to create a sustainable and stylish home.

Create a space for natural light

Reducing your electricity bill is a critical step in building a sustainable home. A great way to reduce your electricity consumption is to build a house that makes efficient use of natural light. Arizona has year-round sunshine, so designing a home that makes efficient use of natural light is easy. Design your home with skylights, panoramic windows and bay windows. These windows let in more natural light, which means you’re more likely to let the light out. However, the materials that make up your windows make a significant contribution to their sustainability.

Wayne Funk owns the Mesa Home Builder Bellago houses This type of glass is one of the main factors in building a cozy and energy efficient home.

“The windows you install should be low-glass windows with a U-factor that reflects heat and light.”

The type of window frame used also plays a role. Funk said window frames made from vinyl, resin, or wood-clad composite windows are the best option for environmentally conscious homeowners.

“Wood and vinyl windows are better insulated and more durable because their color doesn’t wash away after long exposure to the environment,” said Funk.

Aluminum windows are the most commonly used, but these are not a good product for building a sustainable home. This is because the aluminum doesn’t provide much insulation.

Brian Laubenthal is the headmaster of Aline architectural concepts, a Scottsdale architectural firm that works with homeowners to build sustainable residences. He said one way to add more natural light to a home is to install solar tubes.

Solar tubes are metal tubes that guide sunlight through a clear cover on the roof.

“Solar tubes are ideal because you can direct them into areas of your home that normally do not receive natural light, ”said Laubenthal. “They’re also aesthetically pleasing because they can look like lighting fixtures. “

Laubenthal said that any opportunity to add more natural light will and will benefit you Your home environment.

“Natural light creates a more comfortable and healthier space and it will reduce electricity costs. ”said Laubenthal. “It’s a great way to create a more sustainable home.”

Attach spray foam insulation

Insulating the home is an important aspect of building a sustainable home. A house that is not well insulated means your HVAC system will have to work harder to keep the temperature of your home.

Funk says spray foam is superior insulation for a sustainable home.

“You want to insulate your home with SPF foam because it is durable and will keep the temperature of the house because it creates an airtight seal,” said Funk. “There is no more sustainable option.”

Spray foam lasts forever when applied correctly. It also requires less maintenance and is sustainable since you don’t have to waste materials to fix it.

Smart lighting and smart thermostats reduce energy costs

Smart tech is a great modern tool to create a sustainable home.

Intelligent lighting and intelligent thermostats reduce your energy costs sustainably and you should install the technology in your home.

Adolfo Dolan, a project engineer at Mesa Smart Tech Installer Automated environments said smart lighting will help you limit your energy waste.

“You can program a smart lighting system to turn itself off at any time and you can track your energy usage when you are using it,” Dolan said. “You can turn off your lights from anywhere on your phone and schedule them to turn on when you get home. It’s a breeze if you want to save energy. ”

The Environmental Protection Agency states that programmable thermostats can save you an average of $ 180 a year, and it is recommended that the technology be installed. Smart thermostats are programmed to heat and cool the house at different times of the day and night. You can also set the thermostat to turn off when you leave and turn on again before you get home.

“The advantage of a programmable thermostat is that you can schedule when to heat and cool your home,” Dolan said. “Leaving your air conditioning on all day is a waste and smart thermostats prevent it.”

With smart thermostats, you can only control when you heat or cool your home. This will not make your HVAC system more efficient. You need to install an energy efficient HVAC system to save energy on this front.

The right sanitary fitting and the right water heater save water

Arizona residents understand that the water bill is a huge housing expense. A sustainable home means a house that saves water, so install the right plumbing fixtures.

A water heater is a great investment for a sustainable homeowner. It will cost you more money at first, but it will save you overtime. According to energy.gov, instantaneous water heaters are 34 percent more efficient than instantaneous water heaters.

owner of Friend Rooter & Plumbing Nelson Salas recommends instant water heaters because they last longer and don’t waste water.

“A tank water heater means you are wasting gallons of water in a tank,” said Salas. “You save more energy with a water heater because you don’t have to heat your tank every time you need hot water.

Water-saving toilets, faucets and shower heads also need to install faucets to save water.

“A sustainable home is not sustainable if you waste water,” said Salas. “These faucets help you save more water.”

The health of our environment is incredibly important and one of the best ways we can do our bit is to make sure we build our homes with our ecosystem in mind. Install energy-saving fittings, from insulation to plumbing and windows.

Max Lancaster is a freelance writer living in Tempe.

You might also like

Comments are closed.