Sustainability has become an essential aspect of homeownership, and it wasn’t always like that. In the past, though people certainly didn’t deliberately set up their homes in order to harm the environment, they weren’t exactly conscious about their environmental impacts, either.

Now, aside from overall appearance and location, having a sustainable home is perhaps the most important item on a homebuyer’s priority list. According to a 2017 survey, 84% of survey respondents said that living in a sustainable or green home “is important to them.”

Aside from recycling, composting, and simply not leaving electronics on and plugged in all week long, what can property owners actually do to achieve a more eco-friendly, cozy, and cost-effective home?

Believe it or not, there are plenty of things you can do to improve sustainability throughout your home. From your flooring to ceiling lights and even attic insulation, all of these areas and items can be adjusted and improved to contribute to a brighter and greener household. Here are some of the main aspects to focus on:

Flooring

First, take a look at the actual flooring material you’re using throughout your home. There are plenty of flooring options that look great, but only a select few offer sustainability benefits. Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly material due to its ability to quickly grow without pesticides or fertilizers. In fact, a bamboo grove can yield 20 times more timber than conventional trees, and bamboo releases 35% more oxygen into the air than similar-sized trees in the same area.

Lighting

Get rid of those incandescent lights and upgrade to LED bulbs. Residential LED light bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.

Insulation

Whole home insulation is key, but you should start in the attic. According to the Department of Energy, 44% of home energy usage goes toward heating and cooling. An attic with poor insulation is likely leaking air, causing all sorts of issues. Across the U.S., properly insulated buildings reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 780 million tons.

Plumbing

Getting rid of old, inefficient toilets and replacing them with low-flush models can reduce home water usage for toilets by as much as 60%.

Windows

Take a look at your windows’ U-factor rating, which is a measure of how well a window insulates and how effective it keeps heat inside. A window’s U-factor rating is on a scale of 0.20 to 1.20; a lower rating indicating a better and more eco-friendly U-factor.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy all the environmental benefits of a sustainable home. Simply take a look at your flooring, lighting, plumbing, insulation, and windows — and get to work!

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