House Hunting: 3 Home Features To Look For Ideal For Green Living
When choosing a home to live in, it's important to consider the environmental impact that the home will have on your lifestyle and personal preferences. Green living allows you go through your daily life by reducing wasted energy and having the smallest carbon footprint. The house that you purchase can have a huge impact on your green living lifestyle. When shopping for homes, it's important to consider all of the factors that can impact sustainable living situations and reduce waste as much as possible. There are three different things to look for when considering a home that offers easy green living options. Browse through these options and consider them as you work with real estate agents on finding your perfect home.
Windows & Natural Light
One of the easiest ways to reduce energy consumption in a home is with natural light. Homes with expanded window options can reduce the need for artificial light use and fill the home with natural light on a daily basis. Examine each room to check out the window placement and the way the sun shines through. To help maximize natural light, it's a good idea to look for homes with large picture windows or glass doors, like a set of French doors. Skylights are another way to help increase the natural light in the home. It can fully illuminate a room and even offer natural heating options as the sun shines through during cold winter months.
Another type of window to look for is a garden window. These windows stick out from the home and feature small shelving units ideal for growing plants. Not only can you increase the natural light, but you can grow sustainable plants and vegetables that can increase your green living and help the environment at the same time.
Sunlight & Solar Panels
Along with the natural light in the home, it's important to see how the sun shines on the exterior of the home. If a lot of sunlight hits the roof on a daily basis, then you have the option of installing a solar panel on the home. The installation of a solar panel can help reduce energy costs and cut down on your reliance on coal-burning power plants for electricity. When considering a home, it's important to visit in the middle of the day. This will help give you a good idea of where the sun hits. If a home is surrounded by trees, it may be hard to install a solar system that works effectively for the home. A solar power worker may give you a free audit on the property before you make any purchasing decisions.
Appliance Connections
When touring the kitchen of potential homes, it's important to look at the different appliance hook-ups that are available. For example, if the stove and oven are connected to gas lines, those appliances can use a lot of energy and release CO2 into the air. If appliances are included, look for homes that feature induction cooking. This type of cooking can reduce energy consumption, and it heats items up a lot faster. If you're using alternative power options like a solar panel, then electric hook-ups are ideal, as you are creating your own power without relying on power plants.
It's also a good idea to check for appliances that have energy star ratings. If the appliances are old or use a lot of electricity, you have to consider the different budgeting costs for replacing the appliances in the home. When checking out other rooms, it's also a good idea to see different set-ups and connections for things like venting fans and ceiling fans. These items can really help reduce energy costs for heaters and air conditioners.
Express your interest in green living to a local real estate agent. They can help you find ideal houses for sale that fit your wants and needs.