Is Going Green at Home Saving You Green in Your Wallet?

A hot topic these days is transforming your home so that it saves you money while improving the state of our environment. Companies have started to create a plethora of green technologies that supposedly aid consumers in becoming more eco-friendly and economical. 

However, some of these inventions may not be saving you as much as you thought. Read on to see which strategies and gadgets will actually save you money and help you reach your goal of helping the environment.

Hybrid Vehicles

If you’re looking to get more fuel efficiency while cutting down on your emissions, hybrids may not be the best answer. Hybrids do well on fuel when driving mostly on highways; however, if you find yourself driving in the city, they use the same amount of fuel as — if not more than — a conventional car. 

By getting your car serviced regularly, ensuring your tires are at the proper pressure and making your trips as efficient as possible, you will maximize your money and get better fuel economy while leaving a smaller footprint on the environment.

Energy-Efficient Appliances

If you’re thinking that you need to discard your old appliances and invest in new energy-efficient ones, think again. It is not very good for the environment to trash perfectly good appliances just to go and buy new ones. Even the Environmental Protection Agency believes this to be the case. With proper maintenance and tune-ups, your current machines can be just as effective in saving the planet. Then, once yours have reached the end of their lives, you can invest in energy-efficient models.

The Latest Technology is Great but Not Essential

Even though gizmos and gadgets are important, not all green living is centered around them. Green living is about more efficient construction methods that heighten energy efficiency and promote a healthy environment. But you don’t have to be state-of-the-art to go green: If you can learn to better regulate your thermostat and unplug devices that are not being used, you can save the environment and your money.

Existing Homes Can Be Transformed

Conventional wisdom holds that only new builds can be made completely green. However, this is far from the truth. New constructions can actually be detrimental to the environment. New builds take time to overcome any negative effects that they have on the environment, so salvaging your current home is a great idea. Fitting your home with environmental systems can be the key to a better environment and putting money in your pocket.

What steps have you taken to make your home green? Are these steps working for you? Connect with me today to talk more about going green in your home.

Powered by HomeActions for Laura S. Rossinow, Broker associate, Keller Williams Realty, Newton, MA