The trend of environmental consciousness dominates even in the real estate industry, and homeowners in America constantly look for new ways to make their dwellings more sustainable. Energy-efficient domestic upgrades reduce your carbon footprint while making your home a more comfortable sanctuary.

But they also lead to significant cost savings on utility bills and improve your home’s curb appeal. Energy-efficient projects can help you find potential buyers when selling the house, especially if you live in towns like Riverside, where homebuying decreased by 49% last year. Explore the world of green living, therefore, and consider the following top-trending eco-friendly projects for your California home today:

1. Recolor with Eco-friendly Paints

Repainting the exterior of your house is a cost-effective yet high-ROI home improvement project. But you should refrain from using harmful products when recoloring, such as the ones containing VOCs in excessive amounts. These toxic, irritant chemicals can lead to different severe health-related issues.

2. Replace your Windows Promptly

While your windows are a great daylight source, they also harm your house’s Insulation by allowing warm air to come inside in summer. They contribute significantly to heat loss and can overburden your HVAC system, especially if you live in Riverside, CA, a region vulnerable to extreme weather, such as flash floods and thunderstorms. Increase your house’s weatherproofing and energy efficiency while making it safer for inhabitants by replacing your windows with stylish alternatives.

Contact your local Riverside window replacement services to install custom-designed windows. These window replacement companies hire factory-trained and product-certified technicians to bolster your house’s energy efficiency. So, give them a call so they can inspect your place and give a quote.

3. Save Energy by Upgrading Insulation

Insulation breaks down with time, and as houses age, they tend to become drafty. Upgrading your insulation ensures that your house stays warm in winter but cold in summer. So, if you wish to cut down your heating & cooling costs to create a more comfortable living space, consider following these simple strategies:

• Add insulating materials to floors above unheated spaces
• Applying reflective roof coatings keeps your home cooler in summer
• Make sure your insulation doesn’t block any necessary ventilation shafts
• Don’t forget to insulate your basement walls, rim joists, and crawl spaces
• Choose proper insulation materials, e.g., fiberglass batts, cellulose, and rigid foam boards

4. Identify and Seal Air Leaks

You can one-up your house’s insulation by looking for air leaks and sealing them shut properly. That’s how you can reduce your carbon footprint while increasing indoor comfort. Well-sealed homes generate easily affordable power bills. Start by checking your draft near doors, windows, and other openings. You can do that by holding a lit incense stick and checking if the smoke wavers. If it moves, then there’s likely an air leak you need to fix without delay.

Replace worn-out or damaged weatherstripping. Reapply or replace any cracked caulking/sealant too around your windows. Place door snake stoppers at the base of doors to prevent drafts. Go down your basement and up to the attic to look for leaks around vents or chimneys.

5. Start a Garden in Your Backyard

Do you wish to decrease the need for air conditioning? If yes, consider planting shade trees around your dwelling to reduce indoor temperatures significantly. Acting as natural purifiers, properly-maintained plants suck up all the environmental pollutants and give you fresh oxygen in return.

Moreover, you can easily enhance your place’s curb appeal by growing a small garden in your backyard.

6. Invest in Energy-Efficient Lighting

Nothing makes your house more energy-efficient than installing LEDs, as these bulbs last longer than a traditional incandescent bulb. Moreover, LEDs consume 75% less energy than traditional bulbs. Also, compared to CFL bulbs, LEDs are made with more environmental-friendly materials, making them the perfect additions to your sustainable home. Since they offer bright illumination, diverse color options, and a higher ROI, LEDs are now popular for residential and commercial lighting needs.

And they’re not just meant for inside your home; you can also install exterior LED lighting options.

7. Set Up Smart Devices in Your House

Smart devices will automate your home and make your life a lot easier. You can control energy usage remotely and optimize energy efficiency by integrating different smart gadgets into your home.

For instance, a programmable thermostat lets you regulate your house’s temperature more efficiently. You can set schedules matching your everyday routines and save energy while sleeping or away from home. Similarly, smart lighting prevents energy wastage and lowers your power bills. The smart device market includes many different appliances, including refrigerators and microwaves. These smart technology options make your residence more comfortable and enhance its value.

8. Switch to Solar Energy Options

Cut your dependence on fossil fuels and harness sunlight by installing solar panels on your roof. Even though the state government has lowered incentives for residential solar panel installations, it’s still a high-ROI (4.1%) and energy-saving domestic improvement project to undertake.

Luckily, the price of solar panels has also dropped significantly in recent years. That’s why many homeowners are increasingly investing in solar attic fans and water hearts.

9. Use Energy-Efficient Landscaping

Proper landscaping maintains your house’s curb appeal and makes your residence feel more inviting. However, embracing energy-efficient landscaping methods will contribute to energy savings and let you combat California’s ongoing water crisis. Here are some tips for eco-friendly landscaping:

• Group plants with similar water requirements together
• Use native plants that are well-adapted to your climate
• Use organic mulch to garden beds as it retains moisture
• Use permeable surfaces for your pathways and driveways
• Use drip irrigation to deliver water directly to plants’ roots

Conclusion

If you’re looking for ways to boost your family’s well-being, consider creating a greener, more sustainable, and cost-effective living space in California. Follow the guidelines mentioned above and develop an eco-friendly, energy-efficient house. Replace your lighting and appliances with energy-efficient alternatives. Set up a solar system and improve your house’s insulation.

Most importantly, replace your windows to boost your house’s energy efficiency.