It’s The Color That Counts: Big and Small Green Improvements for Your Home

As more and more information comes to light about how our technology and modern ways of living have affected the environments, it’s much more common for homeowners to decide they want to try to make their homes as green and environmentally friendly as possible. It’s not just for Boulder "yippies" anymore either! Some people have more of a budget put aside than others for this, but even if you’re a little short on cash, there are small ways you can improve your home that’ll ultimately help make a big difference when it comes to saving the environment. Some might even have the potential to save you some money in the long run too!

First, if you do have a bit of money saved up to put to this specific purpose, consider changing your roofing or siding materials to Plywood, OSB or paneled siding that helps reflect a great portion of the sun’s reflective energy. You want siding that does this because it will ultimately end up saving you money in electricity costs since your house will stay cooler in the summer and keep your electricity costs down. The same goes for specific types of insulation that will help keep heat in during the winter.

If you have some money saved up but are a little worried about spending it all on energy efficient materials that’ll improve your home, there are also options that might cost a bit more upfront but will ultimately pay off the next time you do taxes. Look for Energy Star label shingles for your home. The federal government offers a 30 percent rebate come tax time, which comes to about $1500 of savings when it comes time to filling out your taxes.

Lastly, if money is a big concern right now, there are small ways you can chip in to help the environment, while not taking a chunk out of your bank account at the same time. If you already have blinds or shades on your windows, for example, remembering to keep them closed over your windows during daylight hours will add up in terms of saving money in electricity costs over a period of time. And instead of turning your heat up higher in the winter, just open up your window’s shades and let the sun naturally heat up your home. Also make sure your windows don’t have any cracks or drafts in them. This can be a fast way to help your energy bill too, since you won’t end up having to pay more in heating or cooling if your windows and doors are properly sealed to the outside elements.