As a homeowner, you most likely take pride in the appearance of your home, both the interior and the exterior. You also probably want to play an active role in making sure that it has a small carbon footprint. That said, it’s a good idea for you to take measures to keep your property attractive, functional, and sustainable. Here are some tips that can help you to make your home eco-friendly and play an active role in keeping the environment green.
Switch to Solar Power
Solar power has come a long way in the last few decades, so it’s a great option for homeowners who want to use green energy. With solar power, you’ll be able to power your house while staying off the grid and enjoying the control you have over your power. Note that currently, solar panels that cover an area of 22,000 square miles, which is the size of Lake Michigan, can provide enough electrical power to the entire United States. This makes it clear that you can benefit immensely from getting solar power for your home, something that you can be guided on how to do by your local solar company.
Plant Trees Around Your Yard
Next, don’t underestimate the important role played by trees in your yard. They can lower temperatures by a whopping nine degrees Fahrenheit, and this alone should be motivation for you to plant some. Take care of those that you already have, if you have any, and you may love the outcome as time goes by. By planting trees around your home, you’ll insulate it against direct sunlight and buffer it against high-speed winds. Doing this is going to help you lower your energy bills and save money.
Use Native Plants On Your Landscape
While a manicured lawn can be attractive to look at, it comes at a steep cost for some homeowners. Depending on the climate that your home is in, you may need to water your lawn regularly and use lots of chemicals and fertilizers to keep it green. There’s an easy way around this, and that’s by planting native plants around your landscape. This can help you get a beautiful landscape that feels amazing and doesn’t need a lot of care and expense to maintain. Note that homeowners are recommended to invest 10% of the home’s value in landscaping. Doing this can keep the home’s curb appeal up, something that you’ll benefit from doing. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to this, you can get creative as long as you’re ready to research and spend time getting what you want.
Start Composting
Finally, it’s a great idea to start composting around your home. If you have space in your yard, don’t hesitate to start a compost pile. This can help you to enrich the soil and suppress a number of plant pests and diseases while retaining soil moisture. This reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which wash into drains and cause trouble for any natural plant and animal life in their path. If you have a vegetable garden, you’ll also benefit immensely from the natural goodness of a compost pile. You’ll have more faith in your vegetables when you don’t have to spray them with chemicals to keep them growing well.
Use these tips to make your property greener than it is. Thanks to the affordability and ease with which you can implement most of these strategies, you can plan to get them done one free afternoon.
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