Sustainable Housing – A Step Towards Sustainable Living
The first and most important thing to consider when transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle is your home. Back in the late 1960′s early 1970′s there was a back to the land movement that found people, especially young people looking for ways to get back to the land and learn to be self sufficient, and start living off the grid (The grid being the electrical grid). These where people in the quest for sustainable living even though it was not called that at the time. Old farmsteads and rural property was their quest and many people were successful in their attempts to become modern day homesteaders.
While today there are still those who have the dream of working the land and being self sufficient, there are many more who are facing financial pressures and the bad economy who are looking to survive while taking care of their families and are being forced to do things in a new way. Today the focus has moved towards
sustainable living to help make it possible to provide for the family. Many people are finding that in order to make ends meet they have to do things differently and take on more projects themselves.
Energy Audit – Start Saving Money
The first step to helping you to be sure you can afford to maintain your home is to eliminate waste and start saving money. Electricity, gas/oil, and water are the three main cost we will talk about here.
- Lighting – a CFL bulb saves about $6.00 a year over a regular incandescent light bulb and last about 6 times as long. Using about 75% less energy than a regular light bulb it cuts down on electricity saving you money while reducing emissions of green house gases by utility companies and is 75% cooler which cuts down on summer energy bills for air conditioning. Turn off the lights when you are not in the room burning energy needlessly is expensive and a waste.
Gas/Oil – Heating is another big expense by tuning up your furnace cutting down the thermostat a degree or two and changing your filters regularly you can cut down on your heating cost. Check for air leaks around widows and doors that cold air will quickly run up your heating costs. Insulate with spray foam and caulk those leaky windows install door sweeps on exterior doors check your attic insulation. The more cold air you keep out and the more warm air you keep in the more money you will save.
Water – Water is not only a precious resource it is expensive as well with the aging water treatment systems municipalities are raising their rates to rebuild the infrastructure and keep the systems going. Start using rain barrels to provide free non potable water for gardening, washing, and cleaning. Install low flow faucets and toilets, Use a dishwasher rather than hand washing a full dishwasher uses less water than washing and rinsing by hand. The more you cutback on water use the lower your utility bill.
Sustainable Living Is Creative Living
Sustainable living is sometimes creative you need to think outside the box and sometimes utilizing the box. Cardboard boxes are compostabel and can also be used as mulch. Wooden boxes can be used for storage or burned for heat or taken apart and the wood re-purposed for many small projects. It is all about reusing and re-purposing what ever you can. If you can get something for free it is money in your pocket. Second hand furniture can be refurbished and will serve the same purpose as brand new yet save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
If you are in need of building materials there are many recycled building material stores around the country that can save you hundreds of dollars by buying good material looking for a new home. Stop at new construction sites and ask for the scrap lumber all they can say is no. If you see someone remodeling see if they have any materials you can use that they are throwing out. And don’t forget about trash day you would be amazes at the amount of wood you can salvage out of an old couch.
Yes this may be a new mind set for you and take some getting use to but not only will you be saving money and honing new skills you will help to save landfill space helping the environment as well. The idea of taking something that is essential garbage and turning it into a useful item again is truly a great feeling.
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