Living Sustainably Starts at Home

As of 2009, electricity was the source of up to 40 percent of energy-elicited carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide is one of four major greenhouse gases. This greenhouse gas is also the one most often emitted from people’s homes and from other buildings. Reducing environmental impact both at home and away can be done simply.

As resources are dwindling and living expenses are rising, sustainable living is an increasingly necessary option. Sustainable living encourages the promise of a future without high pollution levels, where people can provide their own water and limit electricity costs. Utility costs are at an all-time high and, as it stands, it looks like increasing population and its demands for electricity will continue to raise those Hader HVAC aeroseal costs.

Getting a home energy audit or a commercial energy audit is a good starting point to increase efficiency and to harness Cincinnati energy savings. Some important factors to consider are whether there is a problem with air leakage, heating system efficiency, and whether there is proper insulation in the building. Some other possible contributors to poor energy efficiency are the type of lighting used, whether appliances are energy-efficient and what types of windows are used in the building. Another major factor in home energy use is the way people use electronics, particularly their computers, and the aeroseal duct sealing. The most important factor, however, is in how people use those electronics. Some common problem habits are leaving computers and lights on and not adjusting the temperature based on sleeping hours or times at which people are away.

Building designers are beginning to realize the importance of sustainable building. The Cincinnati energy savings from building green buildings are quite significant. A building can begin to be transformed into a sustainable one with the use of passive solar design. Passive solar heating materials include window glazing and thermal building materials.

Home Emergency Savings with Water Harvesting

Sustainable buildings also make use of harvested rainwater in order to avoid relying on the local municipality to provide water.

Reducing Energy Costs with Low-impact Building Materials

Sustainability is also increased through the use of green building materials. Some items used in these buildings are recycled steel, structured insulated panels, insulating concrete forms, recycled wood and rammed earth.

Though it is slow-going, the green movement is expanding. The intention of increasing building efficiency helps the green movement grow and reduces strain on local infrastructure, as well as improving people’s health. Another benefit to the green movement is that it reduces the heat island effect, a relatively new issue that primarily affects urban dwellers. Building and designing are crucial components of creating new buildings and home energy audits due to the encouragement of lower energy costs and alleviating much of the stress on our planet.

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