What does it mean to go green? With the world’s health in focus, “going green” is no longer just a trendy phrase but an essential topic of discussion. A call to action, a commitment for individuals to adopt eco-friendly practices in their daily lives. Behind this action is the intent to reduce environmental harm.
Going green means making choices to help the planet by reducing our impact on the environment. A huge part of those choices involves saving energy. Fortunately, there are active and passive ways to enhance energy-efficiency in your home. In this blog, we’ll explore what it truly means to go green, why it matters, and how your home’s construction can impact the environment.
Go Green – What Does it Mean?
“Going green” is a commitment to a lifestyle that prioritizes sustainability, conservation, and environmental responsibility. It involves making choices that consider the long-term health of the planet and its ecosystems. This idea includes many parts of life, like the things we use, the energy we use, and the trash we make.
An essential practice in living greener is to save energy. By adopting energy-efficient practices, you contribute to sustainability, conserving natural resources, and combating climate change. Saving energy by going green benefits the planet, saves money, and creates a stronger and more sustainable future.
Why Saving Energy Matters
We often receive instructions to ensure that we turn off the lights and water as frequently as possible to save energy. It’s true that this practice is better for the environment.
Imagine your home uses electricity for things like lights, heating, and appliances. This electricity often comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, or natural gas. When burning these fuels, they release gasses into the air, including carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas.
Reducing energy consumption at home means using less electricity. When you use less electricity, power plants need to produce less of it. This is important because producing electricity from fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Go Green by Saving Energy at Home
To actively save energy at home, unplug electronics when not in use, turn off unnecessary lights and devices, and save water. But equally as important are the building blocks of your home: walls, doors, windows, and roof. With the right energy-efficient components, your home can save energy with little effort. In our North Carolina communities, our builder ensures each home is built with sustainability in mind.
Energy Efficient Insulation
At Simple Life’s The Hamlet community, our commitment to building energy-efficient homes starts with high-quality insulation, which reduces energy consumption and enhances year-round comfort. Every home features carefully installed insulation and air sealing to maintain indoor temperatures and reduce heating and cooling costs—which is especially important in North Carolina’s changing seasons.
Increased insulation leads to lower energy consumption and associated carbon emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability. This improved insulation aligns with green building practices, emphasizing energy conservation and overall environmental impact.
Windows for Natural Light
Our thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient homes also maximize natural light through our large, strategically placed, energy-efficient windows, which reduce the need for artificial lighting and lower your overall energy consumption. These windows, when combined with proper air sealing, work alongside high-performance insulation and a heat pump to keep you comfortable indoors and manage heating and cooling more cost-effectively.
By relying less on artificial lighting and thermal performance, homeowners experience long-term energy-saving benefits and reduced cooling costs. As recognized by the Department of Energy, high-efficiency windows also improve water heating performance by keeping your indoor temperatures consistent.
Energy Efficient Roofing
Metal roofs offer several environmental benefits over shingled roofs, making them a more sustainable choice. One significant advantage is the longevity and durability of metal roofs. Metal roofs have a lifespan of about 50 – 70 years compared to the 15 – 30 years of traditional asphalt shingle roofs. Less replacements are required as a result, reducing environmental impact of manufacturing, transporting, and disposing.
The reflective property of metal also reduces heat absorption, thus keeping the building cooler. Less cooling equals lower energy consumption. By reducing the demand for air conditioning, metal roofs can lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
For this reason, all our buildings at The Hamlet boast metal roofs, from the community clubhouse to each of our tiny homes.
The Hamlet’s energy-efficient homes are designed to reduce energy usage. However, if you’re looking for easy and strategic upgrades to reduce your energy consumption, investing in energy-efficient devices is an excellent extra step you should take. Here are some effective ways to save energy around your home without the need for major renovations:
- Programmable Thermostat – Install a programmable thermostat to optimize heating and cooling. Set efficient temperatures during the night and when you’re away to reduce energy usage. The Mississippi State University explained that with a properly optimized temperature schedule, you can save up to 10% in yearly heating and cooling costs.
- LED Lightbulbs – Replace old incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. LED lighting saves about $225 in energy costs each year. If you’re not using LED bulbs, it’s time to swap! Embracing natural light during the day by opening curtains and blinds can also eliminate the need to have as many lights on during the day.
- Smart Plugs – Investing in smart plugs that automatically turn devices on and off can also save energy and money. You may not realize it, but devices and appliances that are turned off but plugged in still consume energy. To limit this waste, connecting energy-consuming electronics to smart plugs offers more efficient control.
By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can make your home more energy-efficient without undergoing major renovations. These simple steps not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also help reduce your energy bills over time. Making conscious choices in your energy usage is a small yet impactful way to create a greener and more cost-effective living space.
Going green means committing to sustainable living. When you prioritize energy efficiency in your home, you’re reducing your daily environmental impact in a big way. Saving energy at home, from unplugging electronics to investing in energy-efficient features like walls, doors, windows, and roofs, plays a pivotal role.
In Simple Life’s The Hamlet community, we use energy-efficient materials to build sustainable, energy-efficient homes. If you’re helping a family member make a fresh start or looking to set goals for greener living, visit Simple Life’s website today to find your perfect energy-efficient tiny home!
