Each home owner has an impact on the world around us. The time is now to minimize the effects we have on the environment, as well as the health of those around us.
I absolutely love this time of year. Everything from cutting the grass and working the flower beds, to de-cluttering the house, to adding to my expanding collection of antique trunks and tool boxes. The fragrances surround us in every way; however for many people with repertory issues this time of year becomes very trying. As a proponent of cleaner, more energy efficient homes a shift is definitely needed
Our awareness of global warming, and our personal environmental impact is becoming more and more apparent. Stories about drowning polar bears, receding polar ice caps, smog warnings and rising temperatures are becoming more and more a part of daily information litany.
Obviously living in a more congested urban center compounds the problem, but altering the choices we make can help. Ensuring that lights are turned off in your home and using public transportation are a great way to get started. A wide range of energy efficient products, such as light bulbs and timers exist to assist in reducing the energy consumption in your home. Energy efficient windows and doors seal out exterior drafts. Insulation in certain cases can dramatically reducing your annual heating costs.
For potential home-buyers and sellers alike this offers some attractive benefits. Reduced energy costs will appeal to skeptical buyers because of the lower cost for energy utilized per square foot of the home. Another benefit is that homeowners save money on their annual heating and utility bills. The final and often most overlooked benefit is that these benefits are transferable to the generations of buyers and sellers that have yet to be born.
It is our responsibility to make the changes now, and to reduce our impact on the environment around. Futures were children cannot enjoy the green grass and the outdoors because they cannot breathe the air, is no future at all.
