Ready to go green but don’t know where to start? Check out these 10 eco-friendly modern home design ideas for inspiration!
5% of the world’s population resides in the United States, yet uses 23% of the world’s energy. And the green-home trend is becoming more than a trend, but a way of life.
Pair this with a modern home design and you have a home that’s stunning and eco-friendly. But with all the modern availabilities, how do you know where to start?
We’ve compiled a list of 10 ways you can make some green home improvements today.
What is a Green Home?
When people say ‘green home‘ they’re not speaking of a painted exterior. A green home uses sustainable materials and is environmentally friendly. They use less water, energy, and waste so it’s easier on the environment. A green home can be completely integrated from top to bottom with sustainable technologies or upgraded at a later date.
10 Eco-Friendly Modern Home Design
Ready to upgrade your modern home to green but don’t know where to start? Here are 10 ways to get started.
Thermostats
SMart thermostats are all the rage. They ‘learn’ from your behaviors and adjust the temperature accordingly. You can also control the temperature from your smartphone if you’re not home because they operate on wifi.
Because the thermostat learns from you, your energy consumption is decreased. These smart thermostats can save you up to $180 per year in energy savings.
Lighting
Replacing the bulbs in your house with LED bulbs is a quick and easy first step to converting to a green home. LED lights use 75% less energy than their counterparts, incandescent bulbs.
They give off less heat and can last anywhere between 10-25 years.
They’re an economical choice as well because they are priced around $10 and upwards depending on the package you purchase. Lighting is an excellent option because you use it in every area of your home and it blends well with modern decor.
Appliances
Energy efficient appliances are one of the best ways to make your home a green home. Apart from your heating and cooling unit, refrigerators and ovens cover about 4% of your energy usage, and washers and dryers use 13% of your energy. Appliances are a major source of energy in the home.
Switching to energy efficient appliances could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Another benefit of choosing energy efficient appliances is that they last longer than previous appliances.
Choose appliances that are sleek and function and that fit beautifully into your modern home design.
Kitchen
There’s more than one way to create a sustainable kitchen beside upgrading your appliances.
Replacing your cabinets, countertops, and flooring with sustainable materials is a great place to start. These materials should be free from harmful chemicals and could be composed of recyclable components, and can be easily incorporated to maintain a modern, clean home environment
Add a recycling bin, LED lighting, and some greenery like herbs and you’ve got yourself a stunning eco-friendly kitchen.
Bathrooms
Turn your bathroom into a green sanctuary with a few upgrades.
No-touch faucets discourage wasting water by detecting motion and consider a high-efficiency shower head for your shower. High-efficiency showerheads lessen the amount of water that flows through your shower, cutting down on water usage. A low-flow toilet works similarly.
If you’re gutting and renovating the bathroom completely, paint your bathroom with paint that’s free of harmful chemicals. Use a paint that has low volatile organic compounds since they’re less damaging.
Landscaping
Eco-friendly landscaping doesn’t have to look eco-friendly – it can be productive while looking accentuating your lawn.
Having a compost bin on your property is a wonderful way to create compost from biodegradable materials such as fruits and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, leaves, and even newspapers.
A sprinkler system can help you save water, and artificial grass can accomplish the same goal.
Artificial grass sounds counterproductive, but it’s attractive because of the low maintenance.
Reducing the amount of soft space you have can also save water.
Solar Panels
Solar panels, like Solar San Diego suggests, are a clear indication that your home is green.
Harnessing the power of the sun, solar panels create energy to power your home. This lessons your carbon footprint substantially while cutting down on greenhouse gases.
Your energy bill will be drastically reduced as well.
Water-Harvesting System
Another green home improvement is to cut down on your water usage by installing a water-harvesting system.
Water-harvesting systems collect rainwater and store it for future use. Rainwater is better, not simply because it’s free in terms of cost, but also free from pollutants like chlorine, making it beneficial for plants. This also works as a backup supply in case of emergencies in which you need water.
You can add a system to your existing home fairly easily or design one for a new home under construction. Be sure to check with your state to make sure water harvesting is legal before you build one in your home.
Non-toxic Materials
Much like replacing your kitchen with eco-friendly components, you can build your home with greener materials.
Choose materials that have a low impact on the environment like recyclables, or ones that are more sustainable and reduces energy consumption.
Here is a list of building materials that you can use in the construction of your home:
Bamboo: strong and can be used in flooring and walls
Recycled steel: making steel exerts much energy so using recycled steel is an eco-friendly option
Concrete: an all-natural choice that’s known for its strength
Reclaimed wood: using more wood is hard on the environment, so aim or reclaimed or recycled
wood, and can create a very one-of-a-kind look in the interior of your home
Sheep’s wool: yes, you read that correctly. Sheep’s wool is a sustainable choice for insulating
Your home. Other possibilities for insulation would be plant-based polyurethane rigid foam, and straw.
Modern Green Home: Sophisticated and Sustainable
Your modern home design can be taken to the next level with a few easy steps. Having an eco-friendly home that’s sustainable and beautiful can provide you with a comfortable life that you can feel good about.
What steps can you take to make your modern home more green today?
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