Eco-Friendly Upgrades That Will Save You Money
With all the climate change awareness circulating these days, people are more inclined to be eco-friendly when they can. At the end of the day, however, people don’t want to go too far out of their way, especially in this economy. One example is electric cars. Most people aren’t motorheads and are more than happy to drive any reliable car that takes them from A to B. They would also be willing to drive an electric car, however, the price tag is far heftier than a gas powered car, so most people opt for the gas-powered car without taking the gas savings fully into account. The same can be said for eco-friendly upgrades in the home.
People are more than willing to take the eco-friendly route, however, eco-friendly upgrades in the home are more expensive than standard ones. As with electric cars, most people focus on the upfront cost rather than the long-term savings. If budgeting is a concern, it’s vital to take into account how you can mitigate your fixed monthly costs. Going eco-friendly will not only mitigate that cost, it will give you the peace of mind that you are doing all you can to ensure a better tomorrow. Consider these alternative eco-friendly upgrades as the need arises:
1) Appliances
Eco-friendly appliances, such as washers, dryers, and dishwashers use far less water, soap, detergent, and energy. There will be a noticeable reduction in your water and electricity costs at the end of the month, especially if you have a big family. New appliances are expensive, however, trashing your current ones and upgrading may not be the best idea for your budget. Alternatively, as your current ones break down, replace them with eco-friendly versions.
2) Windows
If your windows aren’t cutting it and you are looking into new options, don’t go for the cheapest ones. Windows are the front line for protecting your home against the elements. Cheap or improperly sealed windows could be the reason your energy bills are out of control. Opt instead for double glazed windows, the upfront cost is more expensive, but you’ll see on your first energy bill that you will recuperate the losses in no time.
3) Solar Panels
Solar panels seem like less of an upgrade and more like something completely new. Let’s call it an energy upgrade. This upgrade should be especially considered in regions that get a lot of sun. There’s no way around it, solar panels are expensive, however, once you have them in you’ll save a ton of money in long-term in energy costs. Additionally, your excess energy can be sold off, bringing in some extra income.
4) LED Lighting
Most people are complacent about LED lights, they see no reason to replace their incandescents until they burn out and are put off by the higher upfront cost. Most people also don’t understand the difference; an LED light uses approximately 20% of the energy required for an incandescent bulb with the same lighting quality. If you run your numbers, you’ll quickly see that the only course of action is immediately replacing all the bulbs in your house.
For more tips on how to save energy and money, check out these 6 Easy Ways to Save on Your Utility Bill.