Are you looking to upgrade old, inefficient appliances or invest in something new for your home? Why not put your money towards something that will improve the quality and efficiency of your house? No matter what your budget, there are plenty of smart, sustainable improvements you can make to your home.
Here we have a list of ideas for high-reward home upgrades that will reduce
your environmental footprint and even pay themselves off over time.
Insulate & Weatherize
One of
the easiest ways to save money, energy, and improve your quality of
living is to thoroughly seal off your home from the outside
elements. So what if weatherstripping and double-pane windows aren't
glamorous purchases? You could have a comfy, draft-free home and
save hundreds of dollars over time simply by insulating your doors
and windows. Here are some ideas for making that happen:
Check out these useful links on weatherizing your home:
- Guide to energy-efficient windows
- Energy.gov home insulation guide
- Another home insulation guide
- How to install weatherstripping
- Tips for weatherizing to keep home cool during the summer
Rain Barrels
Did you know that thousands of gallons of water flow off of your rooftop every year? Why allow it to go to waste when you can easily collect this valuable resource with a rainwater collecting barrel? You can re-use the water from the barrel in your lawn and garden, and collecting rainwater has the added benefit of reducing polluted stormwater runoff and flooding. Many modern rain barrels are inexpensive, easy to use, and easily connect to your existing gutters. The City of Columbia is even offering a special discount on two rain barrel models if you order them before June!Check out these useful links about rain barrles:
- Order discounted rain barrels from the City of Columbia
- Building your own rain barrel
- Calculate Rainwater Collection Potential
Gardening Supplies
Have you ever
wished you could have your own fresh, home-grown produce? Why not
invest in some seed, soil, and gardening supplies to make
garden-fresh fruits and veggies a reality this year! Growing your
own food is truly rewarding in many ways; it can save you lots of
money on store-bought produce, it's a great way to get exercise and
spend time with nature, you have full control over any fertilizers
or chemicals used growing your food, and fresh fruits and veggies
are both more delicious and nutritious. You can start a small garden
with little up-front cost, but with just a little extra you can
invest in lumber for raised beds, sturdy and durable tools (like
stakes, shovels, and hoes), and other supplies you can use for years
to come!
Check out these useful links about preparing a home garden:
- Raised bed building manual
- Choosing sturdy, long-lasting gardentools, and the basic necessary tools to get
- 10 Essential Gardening Tools
Low-flow fixtures
Toilets and showers
account for the vast majority of water used in most household. If you
want to really cut down your energy bill and save water, low-flow
toilets and shower heads are a must. Another option to reduce the
amount of water you flush away is to install a dual-flush toilet.
These toilets have two flushing options, one for solid and one for
liquid waste, and can save you up to 17,000 gallons of water per
year! You can even convert you existing toilet to a dual-flush system
and reduce its water usage by 45%.
Check out these useful links on low-flow fixtures:
- Comparison of low-flow shower heads (flow rate)
- Installing dual flush conversion kit
- Guide for choosing low-flow toilet
- Concerns about dual-flush conversion
Energy-Star Appliances
Getting
energy-efficient appliances can save you tons of energy throughout
the year—did you know water heaters make up 15-25% of most
households' energy use? Replacing large appliances like old
refrigerators, water heaters, and air conditioning systems will yield
the largest energy savings. An energy-star rated central air
conditioner can make cooling your house 15% more efficient. Some
quick tips: Buy appliances that are just big enough for what you
need, but not any bigger, so you can see the most energy and money
savings. Replace the oldest appliances first; they are most likely
the least efficient and will yield the biggest benefit.
Check out these useful links about Energy Star appliances:
- Info and advice on Energy Star appliances
- Energy Star rebates (in Columbia, LED & CFL bulbs, clothes dryers, refrigerators)
Financial Incentives for Upgrades
There are many rebate programs, loan & financing programs, and
tax credits available for certain types of energy-efficient and
sustainable home upgrades. The Residential Energy Efficiency Tax
Credit, for example, allows you to claim tax credits for a variety of
common home upgrades, including insulation materials, replacing doors
and windows, energy-efficient heat pumps, hot water boilers, central
air conditioning, and more.
Check out these useful links about financial incentives for upgrading your home:
If you found this list helpful, don't
forget to share and add this page to your bookmarks! We will keep adding more
smart home improvements and worthwhile sustainability investments to
this list, so don't forget to check back the next time you're looking
to spend on a sustainable upgrade.
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