Easy Ways to Make Your Kansas City Home “Greener”

When it comes to going green, there are many benefits that you can reap as a homeowner. Aside from the environmental impact of using less energy and consuming less fossil fuels, you can also save money. While green updates to residential buildings has typically been an expensive and cumbersome task, modern advancements have made green updates accessible to the everyman. The Kansas City local movers have a few tips on how you can implement green living into your own home and begin saving energy, and money, today.

Install e-glass windows. Ultra low e-glass windows are basically low-emittance windows. What does that mean? Well, they have microscopic coatings on the glass that help control heat transfer through the window, as well as insulated glazing. This comes in handy when the 3pm sun rolls around and turns your home into an oven, causing you to crank up the air conditioning. Switching to these windows will control the heat that enters, and even though they cost a little more to buy and install, they can reduce energy loss by 30 to 50 percent.

Switch light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are horrible when it comes to efficiency, so they should be swapped out for compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs (and fixtures) use 75 percent less energy than their incandescent counterparts. But that's not all—they even last 8 to 10 times as long, meaning you have to replace them less frequently.

Change up your HVAC filters. Even the filters on the air unit (and your refrigerator!) can make a difference. Opt for MERV 10 filters, which stand for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or how long the item is meant to last. Filters range from 1 to 16, and a residential unit will generally benefit from a 10 rating, with larger numbers applicable to commercial grade systems.

Environmentally friendly cabinets. You read that right! Did you know that some cabinet coatings can emit volatile organic compounds/pollutants? Just like some VOC paints, cabinets with these chemicals mean you are breathing in these chemicals and they are floating around in your home. Yuck! Opt for cabinets that are certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) for their low chemical emissions.

While you might not be able to build a brand new energy efficient “e-home,” these tips will help you transition your home into a more efficient and healthy place for you and your family. Aside from contributing to a better environment, cleaner air in your home, and less energy consumption, you will also save on your monthly utility bill. So what are you waiting for? Switch to eco-friendly practices and live a better life!