Different ways to make your home eco-friendly
The process of making your home eco-friendly and resource efficient can start with small steps. Moving towards an eco-friendly home is good for the planet as well as your wallet.
Here are three simple steps that you can take to make your home more energy efficient. Creating an eco-friendly environment around you does not require a major change in your lifestyle or comfort levels.
Energy audit
The first step is an energy audit to measure your consumption today. Various sites offer calculators to help you estimate your current energy consumption. Some sites also show graphical representation of potential savings based on your existing consumption pattern.
Replace your light bulbs
The next step is to change your light bulbs. Most of the energy consumed by an incandescent bulb is wasted as heat. You can save 75% on the lighting cost by using CFL or LED lights. CFLs are a bit more expensive than normal bulbs, but they last ten times longer. LEDs last two to three times longer than CFLs, but they cost more. Replacing 30 incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs can cut your energy costs by $80 per month. A small step can give a big gain.
Do your wash in cold water
80% to 90% of the energy consumed by a washing machine is used to heat water for the wash. A lot of companies now make detergents that are made for cold and eco-friendly settings on the washing machine.
These are small steps that you can take today to start your eco-journey. The largest part of your energy consumption goes towards heating or cooling your house. Most homes and buildings suffer from high levels of energy loss. New and innovative construction materials and techniques address this issue.
A lot of the construction firms today are focusing on innovative solutions to make buildings more energy efficient. A large part of this is down to cutting energy loss from the building. Construction techniques such as using insulated concrete forms and cool roofing, coupled with materials such as structural insulated panels and low-emissivity glass, make the new buildings highly energy efficient.
M1 Real Estate is part of M1 Group, a multibillion dollar diversified investment holding company. M1 Real Estate is a leading global player is real estate and construction. As part of its drive to execute energy efficient and eco-friendly buildings, it uses both cutting-edge technology along with energy efficient materials and techniques. Each M1 building conforms to the strict LEEDS code. Sustainability features such as the use of low consumption water fixtures, energy efficient ventilation heating, and environmentally friendly construction materials ensure sustainability of the project.
M1 Group has interests across oil, energy, real estate, construction, fashion, and consumer retail. Azmi Mikati, chief executive officer of M1 Group, is the son of Taha Mikati, one of the founders of M1. Azmi Mikati completed his BSc in Civil Engineering from Columbia University and joined the family concern Investcom, a telecom company based in Lebanon. In seven years, he took the company from a turnover of $30 million to $1 billion.
Energy efficient homes require both a one-time investment and steps that you can implement every day. Simply turning off the faucet when you brush can save five gallons of water per day.