As the weather takes a turn for the warmer, many a homeowner begins to contemplate cleaning, decluttering and strategizing toward spring home maintenance. With some intentionality, you can carry out your spring home maintenance plan with our planet’s health in mind. Take a moment to read this post while relaxing on your front porch, then roll up your sleeves and dig in. You will reap the rewards of a cleaner, greener and freshly maintained property in a few days of honest work. Then you will be back to enjoying your front porch with a clean conscience and healthy, efficient home!
Green Home Cleaning
Green home cleaning involves using compounds that are bio-based as opposed to petroleum-based and synthetic. For example, vinegar and filtered water, scented with essential oils makes a great all-purpose cleaner that is versatile enough to use to clean windows or to mop floors. Stains may be tackled using baking soda, water and salt. If you choose to purchase green cleaning products, look for logos by these certifying agencies:
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USDA Certified Biobased Product
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GreenSeal Certified
Make sure that your vacuum cleaner uses a HEPA rated filter. This will help improve your indoor air quality by not allowing residue to cycle back into the room as you vacuum. Choose microfiber cloths over paper towels. Microfiber is recyclable and very efficient at picking up dust and not leaving behind residue.
Green Home Contracting
If you are having work done on your home, try to find tradesmen who use recycled materials, methods that save resources and energy, or materials that are better for the environment. Carpenters, painters, landscapers, energy contractors, plumbers, masons and remodelers can all obtain certifications that help you identify their green home contracting status. Look for certifications such as these:
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Certified Green Professional (CGP)
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LEED Professional Credentials
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Green Advantage Certified Practitioner (GACP)
Green Improvements You can Make Now
Replace old windows. You can significantly lower your energy bills and reduce your consumption of energy simultaneously if you replace your old windows with modern, energy efficient windows.
Install solar panels. Due to the significant reduction in panel installation costs and energy savings by as much as 80%, the number of households installing solar panels is skyrocketing. Harness the power of the sun this spring!
Install water-saving measures. Energy-efficient toilets, rainwater collection barrels, tankless water heaters, and low-flow fixtures are all great ways to reduce your household consumption of water. According to the EPA, your family could save about 20,000 gallons of water annually by making just a few of these changes.
For information on real estate in Asheville, please contact Mike Figura at mike@mymosaicrealty.com or call him anytime at (828) 337-8190.
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