From Guest Blogger Emma Sturgis: Greener Gables–The Best Home Improvements for Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

If you’re looking for a more environmentally friendly way to live, there are several changes you can make around your home that may benefit the planet. In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, these changes can also possibly save you money on your utility bills and other household expenses.

Switch to Solar Power

Using the sun as a power source instead of electricity or gas is one of the best ways to make your home a more environmentally sound space. Using solar power means that you’ll be putting fewer pollutants into the atmosphere that are known to facilitate the effects of global warming. Even though you may need to make a sizable investment into getting solar power equipment, this method of powering your home can dramatically cut your utility bills and save you a lot of money in the long run.

Use Proper Insulation

If your home is properly insulated, you likely won’t have to use as much energy to heat or cool your home when climate conditions are extreme. This will allow you to put less of a strain on your power sources, which can definitely benefit the plant. Insulating can prevent a large amount of energy from escaping your home and potentially harming the environment. Reliable insulation material should be installed in your attic, garage and other areas of your home where energy can escape. This also includes sealing any windows and doors that need it.

Unplug Devices When Not In Use

Whether you’re planning to be gone for an extended period or just a few hours, unplugging your electronic devices is a great idea. Certain devices still use power even when they are not actively in use. To make things more convenient for yourself, you can plug many of your devices into a power strip and simply flip the off switch so that everything powers down simultaneously. If you have a programmable thermostat, you should set it so that it doesn’t automatically come on when you don’t need the power.

Save on Water Usage

Excessive water usage is known to contribute to many environmental problems. You can do your part by installing fixtures and appliances that are specifically designed to be more water-efficient. Check all your faucets to make sure there aren’t any leaks you haven’t noticed. The automatic times on sprinklers should only be used when necessary.

If you’re ready to make some changes to green up your home, look into your funding options. There are various tax breaks and financing options available to those willing to improve their home to reduce their impact. An Austin mortgage loans expert, for instance, says reverse mortgages can be used to pay for cost-reducing energy improvements. Reducing your carbon footprint around your home is easy if you are willing to take certain steps to fix the problem. You can live a greener lifestyle while saving some green by making the right changes.