In today’s age, most of the
residential apartments and villas are being promoted as eco-friendly
residences. Even when green isn’t your favorite color, it is the one thing that
your home must be! Conserving useful resources like water and electricity, and
implementing the mantra of reuse, reduce and recycle will not only give your
home the tag of being ecological, it will also help you cut down on your
expenses. The following article will discuss about how to create an eco-friendly
home.
Your Home…
Whether
you are a homeowner or a tenant, the home you live in becomes your personal
space. With the rising supply in real estate, you will notice the high
availability of villas and flats for rent. Once occupied, it is necessary for
you feel at home and start processes that will help increase the duration of
your stay. Your main objectives should be to reduce expenses and improve the
quality of life. Both these aims can be achieved by creating a green home. It
is simple to implement eco-friendly measures in your house. Being mindful of energy
and water is the first step you can take towards this.
Gardens – Most
homes nowadays have gardens or green patches. You can also create your own
little green area with flowers or herbs. Plants give out fresh oxygen that is
useful for us. Once you begin gardening, you must use compost instead of
synthetic fertilizers. Compost will provide a complete complement of soil
organisms with a balance of nutrients. This will preserve the soil without the need
of harmful chemicals. You also benefit with healthy plants, no weeds and can
give lesser attention and water.
Water –
Start repairing those leaking taps and move on to aerosol spray faucets. You
may also just fit an add-on to the tap. This would create more pressure while decreasing
the flow of water. Use showerheads with low flow and install a twin flush
system for the water closet or set up a urinal that is waterless. But first make
sure the toilets are compatible.
Ventilation – Make
sure your home has ample windows for
cross-ventilation and natural sunlight. This would allow for cooling and will
prevent the creation of carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals. Additionally,
allow sunlight to enter the house as that will stop the formation of mites and moulds
that dwell in sofa, curtains and carpets, making
you
susceptible to respiratory problems.
Appliances – Begin
using electrical appliances that are energy-efficient and consume less power –
gizmos such as flat screen monitors, eco-star or BEE-labeled products. Whether
it is the TV, AC, phone chargers or DVD players, switch off and then unplug the
devices before sleeping. Gadgets, even when switched off, can consume some
electricity if plugged into the socket.
Almost
50 per cent of a house’s energy consumption is because of the cooling and heating.
Make sure you own energy saving air conditioners during the summer seasons and
oil radiators for keeping warm during winters. You can protect your house
from the harsh sun with the help of shades, blinds and curtains to keep it cool
in hot weather. The lesser difference you maintain between the outdoor and
indoor temperatures, the lower the load on the AC, resulting in less power consumption.
Try and delay the use of heat-producing gadgets like washing machine,
dishwasher and dryer. You may use them during night time or the evening.
Lighting – Install
LEDs for common areas such as lobbies and staircases. These lights can be
adjusted by motion detectors or infrared sensors. You could also fix Compact
Fluorescent Light (CFLs) as they consume less energy than an incandescent bulb.
You get to save power by almost 66 per cent and the CFL will last 10 times
longer. Place a 32-watt CFL instead of a 100-watt bulb to reduce the
electricity bills.
You
can also go solar! This is a great way to conserve energy and also save money. Choose
from a wide range of solar products, like solar water heaters, solar lights and
solar chargers, all these products are easily available in the market.
Being
a prolific writer, Devika Arora is dedicated to studying the current property
trends and compiling facts for the benefit of potential investors. Her articles
and other write-ups analyze the realm of Indian real estate and its prospects.
The above piece of work discusses about flat for rent.