Make Your Home Exterior Eco Friendly

If given enough time, every home will need some work done on its exterior. This could include the windows, siding, and/or rooftop. Depending on what you plan to update, there are options available to make those changes better for the environment as well as the look and protection of the building. From energy saving windows to solar panel roofing, the options to create an eco friendly home are improving every year. The best part is that by improving the efficiency of your home, you’ll also save money on your energy bills! Let’s take a look at some ways you can improve your home the eco friendly way.

Energy Efficient Windows

[bctt tweet="One of the easiest ways to improve your home is to install high quality energy efficient windows. Not only will the new windows look great, but they will also keep your home well insulated and lower your energy bills all year round."]

One of the easiest ways to improve your home is to install high quality energy efficient windows. Not only will the new windows look great, but they will also keep your home well insulated and lower your energy bills all year round. Over the years, you’ll offset the up-front cost of installing new windows with those reduced heating and cooling bills. When looking into a window purchase, check out the National Fenestration Rating Council energy ratings to determine the eco friendliness of the options.

Eco Friendly Siding

Another way to improve your home is by updating the outer surfaces with modern siding. Don’t worry, eco friendliness doesn’t have to take away from the look of the building. There are many options out there. Pay attention to the R-value of the material you choose. This is a number that represents how easily a material allows heat to pass through. A higher number indicates better insulation. There are also a number of recycled and biodegradable materials used for siding.

As with windows, updating your siding will improve the insulation and save you money in energy savings. This is a win-win for you! For both window and siding improvements, you can often receive a tax deduction for making your home more energy efficient.

Other Eco Friendly Updates

There are a few other alterations you can make to the outside of your home to save some money while helping conserve resources. Using motion detector lights on your outdoor fixtures can help reduce your energy bill, since these lights will only come on when prompted. You also won’t have to worry about accidentally leaving the lights on.

You can also start using reclaimed rainwater to conserve and lower your water bill. If your area allows for it, you can install a rain barrel at the end of you drainage spouts. These collect rainwater that you can then use to water your lawn and plants, reducing your water bill by reusing the water that nature provided. On the subject of plants, you can also use tall leafy shrubs and trees to add some shade to your home, further reducing your energy usage during the warmer months.

Your roof also plays a big role in keeping your home well insulated, so make sure that it’s in good condition and made from eco friendly materials. You can also look into installing solar panels, depending on your budget.

While there are many other steps you can take to make the exterior of your home eco friendly, these are some of the more common options. Whether or not you choose to go full-out, a simple update to your windows and siding is the best way to improve the insulation of your home, conserving energy for heating and cooling and saving you money over time!