Here are a number of different ways to Ventilation
Ventilation, which could be as simple as opening windows or turning on exhaust fans, is one of the easiest ways to keep your living environment safe. Proper ventilation is imperative to indoor air quality and protects against health issues such as mold, pests, combustion gases, radon, allergens and other air pollutants. Increasing ventilation can help to reduce exposure to VOCs as well as prevent conditions such as sick building syndrome.
Insulation
From attics to walls, insulation is one improvement with a relatively quick return on investment (ROI). Furthermore, you can typically earn a tax credit for insulation. Be sure to consider other products that assist insulation, such as radiant barriers that further enhance the effectiveness of your thermal boundary. If you are unsure if your home has sufficient insulation, a thermographic inspection may also be helpful to pinpoint needless losses of energy.
Energy Efficient Windows
Understanding the energy efficiency of windows can help to greatly reduce the amount of heat that your house loses. Double paned windows can cut the loss of heat by improving the air barrier in your building. Triple glazing, low-emissivity coatings, inert gas fillers,
Energy Efficient Appliances
You can promote energy efficiency in the home through many ways. Heating is generally one of the biggest uses of energy. Options like biomass stoves, solid-oxide fuel cells, or combined heat and power (CHP) units may help to reduce consumption.
Combined heat and power (CHP) units not only generate electricity onsite, much like traditional power stations, but also capture and utilize the heat that is generated in the process. Using the heat that is wasted in conventional systems allows CHP units to use less fuel while producing the same amount of energy, thus reducing pollutants, carbon dioxide emissions and transmission losses.
Energy efficient boilers require significantly less fuel to produce the same amount of heat as traditional boilers. Recovering and utilizing heat that would be otherwise lost can increase the efficiency of the heat exchanger and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 12%. If your boiler is 15 years or older you should seriously consider replacing it with a newer energy efficient model.
When replacing old appliances with new ones, look for the ENERGY STAR label to ensure you are reducing your energy costs and maximizing your dollar. Yes, it’s true that you do pay more upfront. Yet, in most cases, your annual savings will quickly offset the added expense.
Energy Efficient Heat Pumps
Various energy efficient heat pumps, like air source heat pumps or ground source heat pumps, are available to reduce your electrical consumption. A geothermal heat pump (GHP), for example, can use 25 – 50% less electricity than conventional systems. Your purchase of a heat pump may even qualify for a tax credit.
Solar Power
Harnessing solar energy is an increasingly popular source of renewable energy. From photovoltaic solar panels to solar thermal collectors or solar roof tiles, solar power is a legitimate renewable energy that can reduce your use and dependency on fossil fuels while controlling your utility costs. You can incorporate solar in an eco house design or add it on later.
Wind Power
Another very powerful renewable energy source is wind. Homes that have more windy days than sunny may be in the position to benefit from the power of the wind. If your area is not windy, you can still support wind power through Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or purchasing products produced by utilizing wind energy.
Water Conservation
Many water conservation practices save both water and money in environmentally friendly homes. Common ways to lower water consumption include low flush toilets and low flow showerheads. Other means include recirculating pumps and tankless water heaters that create on-demand hot water eliminating the need to waste cold water while waiting for the water to get hot.
Using greywater and rainwater are ways of conserving water by decreasing the amount of water needed. One of the many benefits of greywater capture is that the system reuses water from applications such as showers, baths and washing machines for use in other purposes such as landscape irrigation or toilet flushing. Through rainwater harvesting, you not only conserve water needed for the home and landscaping, but also lower the demand on watersheds and reduce the amount of water contributing to stormwater runoff.
Eco-Friendly Gardening
There are a wide variety of eco-friendly ideas that you can implement in the yard. Utilizing water efficient landscaping ideas and xeriscape landscaping are just a couple of ways to promote earth-friendly designs. A great way to reduce waste, nourish the soil and reduce chemical fertilizers and pesticides is to compost. Methods include aerobic composting, anaerobic composting, and vermicompsting. Consider growing some of your own fruits and vegetables. This allows you to eat organic and nutrient rich produce without harmful chemicals and at a fraction of the cost.
Green Shopping
Purchasing power and behavior also contribute to environmentally friendly homes. Buying green products, like green cleaners, organic foods, hormone-free meats, and locally produced food products, reduces the risk of harmful chemicals and contaminants from entering your home and the environment. Although green shopping may seem like a small step, what you buy also supports the behaviors of large producers who tend to have a very large impact on the environment.
