10 Steps to a Green Home
By using the environment to your advantage in combination with advances in HVAC technology, you can create an eco-friendly home that keeps your energy expenditures to a bare minimum. Let’s look at a blueprint consisting of 10 steps to a green home.
1. Start With Functional Design
Think of all the rooms in your home and the uses they will have. Try and visualize a compact design without wasteful spaces that will require extra energy to heat and cool.
2. Build an Efficient Foundation
Using materials like stone and concrete for your foundation will keep heat from escaping during the winter while retaining cooler temperatures naturally in the hot months of summer.
3. Plan Your Window Placement
You don’t have to sacrifice form for function when it comes to windows. If you like a lot of natural light in your home, try placing windows strategically on the sides of your house where they will best utilize the sun for its heat and lighting. Be sure to install curtains that reflect sunlight so that you can keep your house from heating up.
4. Use the Best Insulation Possible
The energy savings from using the best quality of insulation that your budget can justify will save you a small fortune in the long run.
5. Choose Paint With a Purpose
Paint your house with an eco-friendly product that does not contain heavy metals or other harmful chemicals. Color choice can also help in reflecting the sun or absorbing more heat, depending on what type of climate you live in.
6. Install Water-Saving Plumbing
Choose functional, water-saving showers, toilets, and sinks for your kitchen and bathroom.
7. Consider Geothermal Heating
With good reason, geothermal heating has gained popularity in recent years as an effective method of harnessing the ground beneath your home for your heating needs.
8. Install an AC With a High SEER Rating
Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings offer comfort while consuming less energy than older, lower-rated models.
9. Choose a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is the epitome of green technology for your home. It monitors the appliances connected to your HVAC system and directs them to use the exact amount of energy needed for achieving optimal comfort.
10. Schedule Regular Maintenance for Your HVAC System
All of your planning and implementation will mean very little unless you are able to keep your heating and cooling functioning at the most energy-efficient levels possible. This can only be achieved by keeping a regular maintenance schedule for your equipment and appliances.
If you are a homeowner in the Monrovia, CA, area, reach out to General Heating & Air Conditioning to find out how we can help you go green with your home. Our NATE-certified technicians can provide top-level HVAC system maintenance for your house. We also offer indoor air quality solutions and commercial HVAC services. Call us today.