Published on Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Home Improvement Projects for Greener Living
DIY Home Improvement Projects for Greener Living
We're hearing a lot these days about greener living. This is the only planet we've got and it's becoming more important, as the population of the world begins to have an impact on the overall health and wellbeing of the planet, to take care of it. There are small things we can do each and every day to conserve energy like switching to energy efficient light bulbs, unplugging chargers that aren't in use, and turning off lights when leaving rooms that will help. But there are bigger changes we can make that will passively net big results in the overall impact each of us has on the planet. Here are a few DIY projects you can do that will help the planet and your pocketbook in the end.
Radiant Heat Flooring
This is still a new concept to many consumers around the world but one that can yield significant energy savings throughout the year. What it does is use water, in tubes beneath the floor, to conduct warmth through the floor. This helps in many ways. First of all, water is a much better conductor for heat than air. Second, warm air rises and this generally leaves our feet feeling cold and exposed in the winter. Radiant heat flooring warms us from the ground up. Third, most people experience the same degree of comfort with their thermostats a few degrees lower with radiant floor heating so the energy savings are magnified over the course of a winter.
Install Water Conserving Showerheads
In the U.S., 17 percent of water used by the average family is used for showers. Choosing the right, water saving showerheads, like ShowerSense shower heads, can conserve up to 2,300 gallons of water per year for the average family of four. Not only does this translate into savings on the water bill in regions where water is metered, but it also saves a huge amount of money on the gas bill since you do not need to heat an additional nine and a half tons of water each year (2,300 gallons times 8.34 pounds per gallon divided by 2,000 pounds per ton).
Consider Tankless Water Heaters
Believe it or not, there are many benefits for choosing to go with tankless hot water heaters for your home. Tankless water heaters enjoy a greatly improved energy rating and can be reduce energy costs associated with heating traditional water heaters by as much as 30 percent. In addition to the energy savings and significant reduction in carbon footprint, these heaters are also much smaller than traditional water heaters. This means that you won't have to work nearly as hard to find a great place to sore them. Because they are so small you don't have to worry about running out of hot water, even if you take long showers, because they can heat the water very quickly and efficiently. With options like this, one thing is sure. Kermit the Frog had it wrong. It is easy being green'if you know where to start.
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