Easy Ways to Implement Sustainable Home Designs

Residential sustainability isn’t just a fad. More homeowners are making eco-friendly upgrades to create a healthier planet and save money. If you’re interested in sustainable home designs, you, too, can make a few easy upgrades. Here’s why home sustainability is a good idea in 2024, plus a few straightforward changes you can make to your house.

Why Are Sustainable Home Designs a Good Idea?

There are numerous reasons why you should upgrade your home for sustainability, including environmental, financial and health benefits.

 

For instance, sustainable features promote a healthier planet by reducing resource consumption and lowering your home’s carbon footprint. Energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and other upgrades also help you save money and produce fewer emissions. Some elements even promote cleaner air.

 

According to the National Association of REALTORS, green home designs appeal to buyers’ growing interest in sustainability and can raise your property value during resale.

 

Fortunately, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act has made energy-efficiency improvements more affordable for homeowners through 2032. In fact, you can earn up to $3,200 annually on federal income tax credits to make your home more environmentally friendly, lowering the associated costs by 30%.

5 Easy Ways to Implement Sustainability at Home

Implementing sustainable home designs can be overwhelming to those who think they require significant renovations and a large budget. However, you can make a few easy upgrades in a fraction of the time without a major cost. Here are five manageable ways to make your residence more sustainable:

1.   LED Lighting

Installing light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs is a good idea, whether inside your home, garage, attic or basement. ENERGY STAR-certified LEDs use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 15 times longer. This means you’ll use less electricity to light your home and create less waste from replacing worn bulbs frequently.

2.   Sustainable Floors

Your home’s floors need to be durable to withstand regular foot traffic. Luckily for you, several sustainable flooring materials can hold up for years to come. For instance, bamboo is fast-growing and has a high maturation rate — ready for harvesting within a few years — compared to other standard hardwood floors. The trees also do not require pesticides or irrigation.

 

Other sustainable flooring materials include cork, porcelain, concrete, terrazzo, linoleum, recycled rubber and luxury vinyl.

3.   Energy-Efficient Windows

Double or triple-pane windows contain a special gas fill and low e-coatings, providing adequate insulation to keep your home warmer or cooler, depending on the season.

 

Of course, if energy-efficient window replacements are outside the budget, there are sustainable home design options for your existing panes. For instance, checking for air leaks and weatherstripping are straightforward projects you can do over a weekend. Adding window coverings, blinds and awnings are other ways to improve indoor temperature efficiency.

4.   Indoor Plants

Various studies have shown how plants remove air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide and particulate matter, making it cost-effective and easy to improve your household’s air quality and health.

 

For instance, bamboo palms tackle harmful benzene and formaldehyde, while the peace lily fights carbon monoxide. Spider plants, snake plants, dragon trees and English ivy are also beneficial and low-maintenance. Just be mindful of other air-purifying indoor plants like the Chinese evergreen, which may make your pet sick.

5.   Insulation

Reinsulating your home could save up to 15% on heating and cooling costs. For the greatest efficiency, purchase insulation with a high R-value, which resists heat transfer through conduction. Blanket batt and roll insulation — made from wool, plastic fiber and fiberglass — is the most eco-friendly and commonly used material for this sustainable home upgrade.

Sustainability Is Attainable at Home

Minor adjustments to your home can significantly improve its eco-friendliness and energy efficiency. Projects are relatively easy and take little time, too. Conduct an energy audit of your residence and look for ways to make gradual updates with sustainable home designs.