Smart Ways Your Home Can Use Renewable Energy Systems

As more and more families become aware of the environmental impact and carbon footprint of single-family homes, green homes have been becoming a popular option among eco-friendly communities.

What are green homes?

In essence, a green home is one that puts in an effort to respect the environment through energy-saving efforts. When you hear this buzzword, you’ll probably think of a house covered with plants, but that only scratches the surface of all you can do to make your home green.

A green home is one that makes a positive contribution to the environment, or at least minimizes any negative impact on it. These have steadily been becoming the norm for families who want to make small steps to cut back on their carbon footprint, while saving some money and resources.

Renewable energy is the heart of green homes, and is a resource that is derived from renewable sources. This means that, in spite of the environment going on a decline, there is still a possibility of a clean energy future.

The most common forms of renewable energy is thanks to wind and solar energy. While there are still more being discovered, these two are the most reliable and easy to procure. Renewable energy resources are no longer just a thing for the rich and wealthy, there are small ways you can start incorporating them in your home?

Why should your home go green?

The benefits of a green home far outweigh the investment you’ll make in it. To help convince you that taking the more environmentally-friendly step is the way to go, here are some reasons why you should be making these green changes in your home:

Economic Perks: Renewable resources are not just sustainable; They also save you from future replacements, maintenance and repairs. In some states, the government even offer incentives for green homes! These environmentally-friendly steps will be making sure that your hard-earned money will be going to more reasonable dues!

Green homes are able to utilise less energy, which will lead to smaller utility bills. By starting small, you’ll be able to make huge savings. After all, the definition of sustainable is something that lasts, and you’ll be able to make sure your home will stand the test of time.

Positive Environmental Impact: We’ve only got one Earth, and it is our duty to take care of it the best we could in order to ensure that future generations will live a good life. By taking action in doing these in the comfort of our own homes, the natural environment will greatly benefit.

From construction alone, it already has notable and huge differences compared to traditional homes that omit extreme amounts of toxic and construction waste. Since the house will be relying on the recyclability of materials and resources.

Consider this: something as mundane and ordinary as having to replace and look after the upkeep of your air conditioning unit already makes a negative impact on the world. You’ll have to throw out non-renewable waste that can potentially harm the environment, as well as spend money in doing so!

Improved Health of Your Family: A green home uses paint, finishes, varnish, etc. that are easier on the lungs and won’t potentially cause respiratory illnesses in the long run.

Through advanced steps that protect the environment, you’ll be able to look after the health of your own family. Your green home will be run on cleaner air, thus resulting in a healthier place for everyone who inhabits it, thanks to better indoor air quality.

Value of Your Home Increases: Studies have shown that green homes or buildings are valued more than commercial, traditionally built structures. Even if you aren’t looking to sell your home in the near future, green homes translate to a bigger market value and, in effect, a better resale value.

Most buyers see sustainable features as a must-have in any home, especially those eyeing second-hand houses. This is why green homes are selling out faster and at a better price than non-environmentally friendly structures. This is a no-brainer as well, families looking to move into a new home will be impressed by how sustainable the structure is, and how good it will be for the environment and their family.

With all these reasons and more, you’ll be able to see why green homes are a popular option among home-owners and communities. If you’ve been convinced already, there are multiple ways you can incorporate renewable energy systems in your house. Read on to find out how you can take steps closer to a greener home!

What are smart ways you can turn your home green with renewable energy systems?

1. Air Source Heat Pumps

If you’ve been looking for heating and/or cooling options for your home, Air Source Heat Pumps may be the smartest choice for you!

Air Source Heat Pumps of ASHP uses the technology of vapour compression that produces year-round climate control for your home. In spite of its name, it doesn’t just provide heat and warmth for the cool days, it powers your home for cooling in the warmer months as well!

Consider Air Source Heat Pumps as an investment. It has lower fuel costs compared to typical cooling and heating systems. These ASHPs have a significantly lower impact on the environment since the heat processed is taken from air, ground, or water. It is also then continuously renewed, being the more sustainable option.

Another point for its sustainability is that it doesn’t require too much maintenance, as how conventional cooling and heating systems do. It's cheaper in the long run, and even its installation is less of a hassle on manpower and on your wallet. It doesn’t require an excavation site, which means that you won’t dent the environment any more than you need to.

1. Rooftop Solar Panels

Rooftop Solar Panels used to be a thing of curiosity for most, but not any more. More and more houses are adapting this technology in their homes to the point that it has become a common sight in most residential areas.

This technology has actually been around for a long time! NASA used solar-powered satellites as early as the 1960s, and even as far back as World War II, passive solar heating systems were used in US homes.

It’s great news then that it isn’t as far-fetched as it once used to be. Burning fossil fuels has been worsening the global warming problem that we’re facing, further endangering our planet and its inhabitants. This is why switching to solar-powered renewable energy resources is a good idea, and making the change is vital sooner rather than later.

The sun is a free resource, which is why it's beneficial to both homeowners and the environment that we harness its energy instead of depending on fossil fuels. Rooftop Solar Panels provide clean energy without greenhouse gas emissions, and can save you a great amount when it comes to electricity bills.

Of course, before you make the leap, it is important to do extensive research on this. You should get your supplier to check if your roof can support the panels to be installed. It would also be wise to ask how much power it can actually produce, and how much of your house it can support.

All in all, a Solar Rooftop Panel is one of the easiest, most accessible ways to switch to a greener home. Don’t be afraid to make small steps towards a cleaner environment, and check if a Solar Rooftop Panel may be the right move for you and your home!

3. Solar Water Heating

Families who have made the leap from conventional water heaters to Solar Water Heating swear to never go back to their old ways, and it’s easy to understand why.

Water heating consumes more energy compared to any other activity in your house, so it might be the best step for you to switch to Solar Water Heating as it will cushion both your wallet and nature. Replacing a feature in your home with renewable energy from the sun will have a significant effect in your overall expenses.

In a nutshell, Solar Water Heating systems consist of a storage tank and solar collectors. They are further subdivided into active ones, and passive ones. The most notable difference is that active Solar Water Heating systems have circulating pumps whereas passive ones don’t.

If you aren’t keen on setting up solar panels on your roof just yet, Solar Water Heating may be the best alternative for you. While it does make a huge difference and is a great step to a greener home, it won’t be as big of a commitment as a solar panel. Yet, it still provides you with great benefits!

4. Wind Turbines

Now, this option is best suited for those with large plots of land, and works best for those that require a lot of energy for daily activities. Wind Turbines are more commonplace in farms, but those in large residential estates have been utilising this renewable energy in the past decade.

A small-scale wind turbine may be a wise choice for you to harness green power. Just make sure that you have a place to set it up on, and that there is a great distance between you and other homes. This is because a wind turbine produces noise, and you may be getting complaints from your neighbours later one.

The great thing about wind turbines is that it’s strong enough to power most of your household needs, rather than just a fraction that a solar panel produces.

Helping the environment can start right in the comfort of your own home. By making these adjustments and investments, you’ll be able to decrease your excessive use of energy. On top of that, you’ll be able to make your own mark when it comes to decreasing the rate of global warming.

With all these renewable energy resources available, building a greener home is no longer impossible. Want to help the earth while keeping your family safe? Renewable Specialist is a multi-award winning family business established in 2015. If you’ve been looking for renewable energy alternatives, drop by our site!