The world around us is changing rapidly. A growing worldwide population continues put an ever increasing strain on resources. Globalization has allowed civilizations to industrialize at a mind-blowing pace. But new advances in energy efficiency are constantly being discovered to offset the constantly increasing needs.
Technological improvements in the world around us effect nearly every aspect of our lives. Energy efficient products use less power, less water, burn brighter, and cost less to operate than in the past. Most of these scientific advancements fly under our radar as we enjoy their benefits without really understanding them.
What Does Energy Efficient Mean?
In the broadest sense, the definition of energy efficiency is to use less energy to do the same thing. This could be in relation to many areas like the electricity needed to power a light bulb, or the amount of heat required to keep your home at a certain temperature.
Thinking in terms of energy meaning electricity, energy efficiency relates to less power consumption.
Reducing the amount of power consumed creates less pollution, less strain on grids, as well as increased cost savings.
There are literally hundreds of ways to increase energy efficiency. This can be done by purchasing energy efficient products, reducing losses in your home, or even improving personal habits. Some of these improvements can cost very little, such as sealing up windows in your home. Others, like purchasing solar panels for your home, can cost in the thousands.
When making large investments like paying a company to insulate your attic, it’s important to be well informed. We’ve created this guide, as well as many of the pages it references, to ensure that you’re making correct decisions that are in your best interest.
Much of the information available, whether online or from “experts” may not always be entirely accurate. Unfortunately, many of their claims and statistics are made by people attempting to sell you something. Always be sure to double check information when someone claims overly high cost savings. While many products and home improvements can pay for themselves over time, it will generally take several months or years to hit the “break even” point.
The Difference Between Being More Efficient and Conserving
It can be easy to confuse the two, but increasing efficiency is done by making improvements. Conservation is simply using less of something.
While both are beneficial in reducing the negative effects we have on the environment, it’s important to understand the difference between the two.
Conservation usually causes people to have to adapt to using less of something than they would prefer. If you conserve heat by turning down the thermostat, you may be colder than you would like. If you take shorter showers, you’ll lower your water usage, as well as the costs to heat it. You’ll also have to scrub really fast.
Most of the areas we’ll be focusing on throughout this article, and on the rest of this website, are ways to be more efficient.
Border West works with many home improvement companies and people who sell products designed to improve energy efficiency. Those companies don’t have the ability to make your family take shorter showers. What they can do is create low-flow showers, insulate your hot water pipes, and install a more efficient hot water heater.
By becoming more energy efficient, versus focusing on conservation you can still enjoy the same lifestyle with less harm to planet!
You’ll also end up saving a lot of money.
Why Worry About Energy Efficiency?
Lowering your carbon footprint is something of a new phenomenon. Only in the last few decades have humans really begun to understand the effect our behaviors have on our planet.
In 1955, Congress enacted the Air Pollution Control Act, providing funds to begin studying the effects of air pollution. This lead to the Clean Air Act of 1963, which was the first major environmental law that actually limited air pollution. Since then there have been countless acts of legislation to go into effect regulating all sorts of polluting industries.
To put that into perspective, there have been been limitations on air pollution for less than 60 years.
As technological breakthroughs have continued to drastically change our lives, new challenges have been uncovered. Automobiles, home appliances, and computers have shaped the modernized world we live in, but powering it has become increasingly challenging. As we’ve realized that excessive carbon dioxide in our atmosphere produced from our energy use harms the environment, energy efficiency has become than something to make us feel good about ourselves or save on the electric bill.
One of the biggest issues with consumers in the US is the cost of Going Green. Many people on the lower economic spectrum simply haven’t been able to afford the increased upfront costs, even if it would save them drastically in the future.
On the other end of that spectrum are people who are wealthy and feel that they’ve earned the right to be wasteful with energy.
The fact of the matter is, everyone is going to have to begin to adapt to being more efficient for the sake of the planet. Otherwise, many aspects about our current way of life are going to change dramatically.
The Climate Change Controversy
If you’ve paid any attention to news or current events in the last couple of decades, you should recognize the term man made climate change. There is absolutely no disputing the fact that the earth is warming at an increasing rate. 2010 to 2020 was recorded as the hottest decade ever recorded, with 2019 being the second hottest year.
The controversy comes pinpointing the exact amount of influence humanity has on this.
According to NASA, a group of 1,300 independent scientific experts from all over the world concluded “there’s a more than 95 percent probability that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet.”
While this may seem like conclusive enough evidence, there are still very loud voices contradicting the claim. These opposing voices are very often backed by controversial or no scientific evidence. Oftentimes, their proof comes from studies financed by industries trying to refute scientific evidence because it hurts profits.
Without forming too strong of an opinion here, it’s almost impossible to find any ways that increasing energy efficiency could HURT the planet. Even those whose jobs have been eliminated through lack of necessity (coal) could find employment in new renewable industries (solar, wind). Many require very reasonable amounts of training.
So even if there is the smallest chance that humans aren’t directly responsible for warming the planet, is that a gamble that’s worth taking? With all of the advances in energy efficiency, it’s becoming more expensive to not do what’s best for the future of the Earth.
Simple Ways to Lower Your Power Use
Before we start talking about hiring a company to remodel your home, or going to Home Depot and buying all new appliances, let’s start small. Whether your motivation for making a change is to decrease pollution, slow the warming of the planet, or lower your electric bill, there are many things you can do that require little money or effort.
Completely Free Ways to Lower Energy Usage
The following are ways that you can conserve energy without spending anything. These all fit into the conservation department, but none of them will require drastic lifestyle changes.
Turn Down the Thermostat
According to the federal government site, Energy.gov, turning the thermostat down around 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours per day can lower usage by 10% per year. Depending on the size of your residence, this could amount to several hundred dollars per year, or more.
This doesn’t mean that it’s necessary to sweat all summer to save a few bucks. It’s just about being conscious of minimizing usage when you don’t need it.
One of the easiest ways to do this is with a programmable thermostat. Most places are already equipped with a digital thermostat that can be easily set to change temperatures on schedule. The problem is, few people take the time to program them.
The first thing you should do is adjust your system to run less when the house is empty. Set that ten degree adjustment for when everyone is away at school and work. Set it to go back to normal an hour before everyone returns.
Another way to save is to lower the heat slightly when everyone is asleep. Most people generally get a better nights sleep at cooler temperatures. Just be return it to normal before alarms go off or else the kids won’t want to get out of bed.
This section is about completely free ways to reduce inefficiency. If a home isn’t already equipped with a programmable thermostat, the above just needs to be done with manual adjustments. The downside is waiting for the temperature to return to normal.
Maybe it’s time to think about upgrading to a new energy efficient smart thermostat!
Open or Close the Curtains
Being aware of the way the Sun warms your home will be discussed much more later on. There are countless ways to utilize or reduce the Sun’s energy that can benefit you year round. One of the simplest is paying attention to sunlight beaming through your windows.
Closing the drapes or blinds in the summer can prevent the Sun’s rays from warming your home. By reducing the amount of heat entering, the cost to cool goes down significantly.
During the winter months, curtains can help keep things warmer. Heavy drapes can form an added layer of insulation to windows holding in the heat. Even regular curtains will add some benefit.
Use Cold Water in the Washing Machine
According to the EPA, about 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes comes from heating the water. Most washing machines today are just as effective at getting your clothes clean when ran with cold water. Many detergents available today are designed to work with cold water also.
Only doing a wash when you have enough dirty laundry for a full load is another way to conserve. For most families, this isn’t an issue, but if it is, it’s usually pretty easy to find something that is due to be washed.
Also, another easy way to save on heating water is to use cold for washing hands or rinsing a glass. With small tasks, the water is often just starting to heat up by the time you’re finished and it just sits in the pipes and cools.
Hang Dry Your Clothes
As someone who’s been hang drying for years, I can’t see going back to using a dryer. While the stiffness in some clothes takes some slight getting used to, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Even if space is somewhat limited in your home, every article of clothing you don’t dry in a dryer lowers power consumption. If you have an apartment with an outdoor deck, a makeshift clothes line is easy to set up.
You can hang wet clothes on hangers and separate them in your closet or shower rod to dry. Also, there are countless products available to add a clothes hanging area inside. The added humidity in the winter will also make your home feel warmer and more comfortable.
Give the Car a Break
This next one can take many different forms, but finding alternative ways to get places occasionally can make a huge difference. Creating less pollution, reducing wear on your vehicle, and keeping some extra money in your pocket are all benefits. There’s an extra added health factor if your transportation choice involves walking, biking, or another form of exercise.
Even if you’re just taking the bus once per week or carpooling, the benefits can be substantial. Not to mention, conserving your happiness by not driving in traffic occasionally.
There are also many other ways to lower fuel consumption on your vehicle;
- Choosing stores or restaurants that are less of a drive from where you live
- Scheduling necessary trips at times when you won’t be sitting in traffic
- Exercising at home or jogging around the neighborhood, instead of driving to the gym
The first step is just being conscious of the areas where you can reduce wasteful trips. If you start there, and look for opportunities, the rest will fall into place.
Check Your Energy Provider
Due to recent legislation, consumers in some states are able to choose between multiple service providers for electric and gas. The actual grid is still owned by one company, meaning that the electric and gas quality will be exactly the same with every provider. What’s different is, each provider is the company who bill’s the consumer and handles customer service. The idea behind this is to encourage competition between providers and help consumers to get a better rate.
While this can certainly help you pay less for electric and gas, some companies allow you to choose how your electricity is generated.
Many providers are transitioning towards renewable sources like wind and solar farms. They will sometimes give you the option of getting a portion of your electricity from these sources. While this is sometimes more expensive, some of the added cost goes to converting to more solar and wind farms.
We recommend checking for better deals whenever your agreement is up with your current provider, or whenever you move. Just be careful; many of the offers these companies advertise are often very misleading.
Turn Off and Unplug Electronics
A quick walk through most homes will expose dozens of electronics that are plugged in but not in use. It can certainly be inconvenient, and even a little dangerous, to unplug certain unused electronics like lamps. But there are obvious items that are rarely used which are constantly draining power.
Televisions and entertainment systems in guest rooms are a great example. So are kitchen appliances or power tools in the garage.
One of the biggest culprits though are computers. Many people rarely, if ever, turn off their computers. Even if the computer has a screensaver, it is still using unnecessary power.
Enduring the slight inconvenience of waiting for your computer to boot up after starting up is the only downside. Making this small sacrifice should be worth it for the amount of electricity you’ll save.
Then, you can take the savings and buy a new computer that’s faster and more efficient!
Low Cost Ways to Lower Consumption
We’ve covered some really great free options that lower inefficiency and cost absolutely nothing. Now we’ll cover some of the best options that require a small initial investment of money and or time.
Just FYI, everything you do to increase your energy efficiency should eventually pay for itself in reduced costs. Some improvements will be noticeable right away. Others may take years to reap the benefit.
The best rule of thumb is to do your homework! The market for green products is booming and will only continue to grow. This means a lot of people trying really hard to sell things, not all of which are going to work as well as described.
Make sure that you know exactly how an investment meant to improve efficiency is going to work.
Seal Up Your Doors and Windows
Preparing for cold weather is a great opportunity to winterize your home, but sealing up gaps in your household is a good idea any time of the year. As we spend hundreds of dollars per year on heating and cooling, we often don’t do nearly enough to keep the heated and cooled air inside.
One of the cheapest and easiest ways to remedy this is to make sure doors and windows are sealed properly.
With doors and windows, you can easily check for any gaps with a stick of incense. Just light the stick on a day when it’s breezy outside and move it around areas that may have leaks. If a breeze causes the smoke to dance around, this is an area that needs to be sealed.
A quick search of Amazon, or a trip to the hardware store will offer a wide array of products. Simple weather stripping can easily be applied, even with no experience. Tubes of sealant are a little more difficult, but certainly not impossible. Just be sure to keep some soapy water nearby to clean any messes.
If you are preparing for winter, and you don’t plan on opening your windows for a few months, add in some window plastic to hold in the heat. This is another cheap, but effective solution that nearly anyone can apply. Also, consider some inexpensive thermal curtains. Both of these are temporary, easily removable solutions to keep heat inside.
Replacing Light Bulbs
LED lights are probably the most discussed energy saving product on the market today. They are also one of the easiest ways to be more Eco Friendly.
Replacing light bulbs in your lamps and light fixtures can be a bit pricey to do it all at once, but the benefits are undeniable. If the price is an issue, start picking up a couple at a time each grocery trip. Eventually, the entire house will be switched over.
The benefits of switching to LED are undeniable. The yearly savings on the electric bill will be significant, especially in a home with several people occupying it.
Also, the high efficiency LED bulbs last MUCH longer than older florescent bulbs. Some of which can last as long as a decade!
There’s also the added benefit of helping to create a healthier planet with less pollution and less waste.
How Much Can LED Light Bulbs Actually Save?
Energystar.gov clearly states that Residential LED bulbs last 25 times longer, and use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs. When calculating the total benefits over the lifetime of the bulbs, the savings are in the several thousand dollar range. Plus, less pollution from producing more electricity, as well as hundreds of bulbs ending up in landfills.
Get a Smart Thermostat
We touched on smart thermostats briefly in an earlier section. Installing a programmable or smart thermostat is going to be one of the best power saving investments you can make on your home.
Costs can vary, but many smart thermostats can be found right around $100 (significantly less for basic digital programmable thermostats). These include some amazing options like geofencing (adjusting temperatures based on your proximity to your home), alerts, reports on usage, and smartphone compatibility.
The return on a smart thermostat is going to be very large versus not using any programmable thermostat. Some boast HVAC savings over 20% per year, which can amount to several hundred dollars in most homes. They’re also very easy to install and set up with no professional help.
Upgrade Your Shower Head
Depending on the age of your shower head, you could be dumping close to 6 gallons of water per minute down the drain.
There’s another section completely dedicated to water efficiency, but excessive use of hot water can make your home less energy efficient as well.
Changing your shower head may not reduce inefficiency by mind-blowing numbers right away. But the cost to make the upgrade is fairly inexpensive. Thinking in terms of a family with multiple members taking daily showers, the savings will add up over the years.
Probably the most noticeable improvement will be the comfort of your shower. Most older and more wasteful shower heads just seem to just dump water on the user. Many modern low-flow shower heads are scientifically designed to provide a shower that feels amazing, while using much less water.
Change Your Furnace Filter
Unless you have very strong allergies, this can be changing an air fillter can be difficult to remember. If you have active allergies, you’ll know exactly when your filters need replaced. An easy way to remember is to put a monthly alert on your phone.
Regular replacement of furnace filters can provide more benefit than preventing sneezing fits. Dirty filters reduce air flow, putting more strain on your HVAC system. This causes it to work harder, requiring more electricity to be consumed.
Also, an overworked system has a much shorter life span. Purchasing a few extra air filters per year is a much better investment than replacing a new furnace several years earlier.
Furnace filter technology has improved immensely throughout the last few decades. They’ve come a long way from the blue, fiberglass sponges that we had years ago. Now even most grocery stores have an entire aisle dedicated to filters, all with different grades and levels of effectiveness.
Their prices have also reflected these advancements. The best recommendation is to find a deal on a year or half-year’s worth of filters. You’ll end up paying a fraction of the price per unit that you would buying individually.
Making the Transition an Energy Efficiency Home
We’ve covered some of the minor changes that you can make to improve energy efficiency. Now we’re going to move into some of the larger projects.
Most of upgrades from this point on will require a larger upfront investment, a little more elbow grease, and/or someone who is an experienced professional. Everything listed will add a significant improvement to your overall carbon footprint. How long this will take is dependent on many factors, most of which will be explained.
We’ve divided the next section into two parts, Purchasing Energy Efficient Appliances and Products, and Professional Energy Efficient Home Improvements.
The first part is all dedicated to upgrades you can purchase at a store or online. We don’t specifically state that you should hire a professional to install these. If you aren’t absolutely certain you know what you’re doing, you definitely should seek expert help. Not doing so could cause you or your family harm, damage your home, or possibly destroy an expensive product that you recently purchased.
Alternatively, in the Professional section, hiring an expert may not always be required. Many of the home improvement suggestions may fall into areas within your own personal expertise. If this is the case, feel free to tackle the project on your own.
One thing we guarantee is to to our absolute best to provide the most accurate and honest information. All of the facts in this article are backed by the most up to date, verifiable information currently available. This is combine with our expertise the experience of our partners, many of whom have worked in home improvement and construction their entire lives.
Purchasing Energy Efficient Appliances and Other Products
Society has reached a scientific point where nearly everything you own can be replaced with a newer, faster, or more efficient mode. And if there’s something that’s the absolute top of the line, it won’t hold that place for long.
When purchasing items like home appliances or electronics, the initial benefits vary by situation. Some are obvious, such as replacing a twenty year old refrigerator. Others, such as upgrading a three year old television, need to be calculated.
In the following section, we cover the products that are the most common, as well as provide the most benefit. They are bunched into like categories, and many are clickable, linking to more detailed information.
Home Appliances
Upgrading home appliances is going to be one of the easiest ways to make your house more efficient, if the initial expense isn’t an issue. Many new home appliances are going to have an Energy Star label explaining the environmental benefit of the product.
The most inefficient home appliances that can provide the most benefit from upgrading are listed below:
- Air Purifiers
- Dryers (Laundry)
- Washing Machines
- Dehumidifiers
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- Dishwashers
What is Energy Star?
Energy Star is the government backed certification that helps consumers make informed decisions about products and service providers. Energystar.gov is a great resource to find everything from Eco Friendly computers to a certified insulation contractor to add radiant barrier to your attic.
If you’re looking for unbiased, simple, credible information on products that can improve the planet, your home, and your finances, their website is a great place to start. And when shopping for new products, look for the Energy Star Label with accurate information on product efficiency.
Electronics
Household electronics are generally not something people think of as being wasteful. Many older electronics were simply not designed with energy efficiency in mind.
In the past, people didn’t calculate electricity usage when factoring the cost of a new television. Now, factoring in the cost of powering a computer over it’s lifetime could make less efficient models much more expensive, even if the up front cost is significantly lower.
Here are some of the products that will provide the most benefit with an upgrade:
- Audio/Video
- Personal Computers
- Computer Monitors
- Imaging (Printers)
- Pool Pumps
- Televisions
Heating and Cooling Systems
Heating and cooling is one of the biggest areas of wasted power. Keeping hot air inside in the winter and outside during the summer is only half the battle. The way that air is generated can be a huge source of inefficiency.
The biggest issue with replacing heating and cooling systems is the total price of the actual units. Many HVAC systems can cost several thousand dollars to replace. Even though many homeowners know their systems are old and inefficient, they simply can’t afford to purchase better replacements.
Fortunately, there are many tax rebates and incentives for upgrading to these more efficient units. A simple Google search will help consumers find what is currently available on a federal and local level.
Another option to consider is financing. Many HVAC retailers and installation companies offer financing options to offset the large cost of their systems. This can be a great way to get an old system replaced with a more efficient furnace, heat pump, or central air unit. Just be cautious that unfavorable terms don’t end up eating up more money in interest than you’re saving on your electric bill.
- Central Air Conditioners
- Air Heat Pumps
- Ductless Heating & Cooling
- Furnaces
- Single Room Air Conditioners
- Geothermal Heat Pumps
- Smart Thermostats
- Ventilation Fans
Professional Energy Efficient Home Improvements
This area is dedicated to minor to major upgrades you can make that will drastically improve your home’s energy efficiency. As we stated before, these projects are recommended to be performed by an experienced professional.
If you are confident in your expertise, feel free to proceed. But don’t let trying to save money up front result in higher costs later due to improper installation.
Insulate, Insulate, Insulate!
It’s listed three times because it’s that important!
Properly insulating your home is one of the most effective ways to increase your energy efficiency. There are many different types of insulation and at least a dozen places in your home you need to install it, the most important probably being your attic.
Other places to pay attention to are heating ducts and water pipes. Reducing the heat loss from poorly insulated ducts and hot water pipes can drastically reduce your electric and/or gas bills. Other benefits are a more comfortable home, less strain on your heating system and water heater, and reduced risk of frozen pipes.
It may be possible to install insulation in certain areas of your home with minimal experience. This may limit your insulation choices to basic fiberglass or rigid board insulation, most likely.
If you want to increase your efficiency with spray foam insulation, loose fill blown, or radiant barrier, it’s best to call an expert. They are going to have the proper equipment necessary to install these types of insulation. They will also be able to properly discuss the specific benefits of radiant barrier insulation and attic ventilation in your home.
Energy Efficient Windows, Doors, and Skylights
Earlier we discussed properly sealing windows and doors to reduce draft. This is because open cracks to the outside are some of the most power wasting areas in the home.
Sealing up these areas can definitely help, but with many homes, especially if they’re older, you’re only putting a (literal) bandage on the problem.
Replacement windows, along with new doors and skylights, can be a costly endeavor. This is going to be greatly offset by the reduced waste and monthly savings on bills.
Another important factor to consider is the overall look and feel of the home. Skylights and large bay windows can increase lighting, lowering electric bills while increasing overall comfort.
New windows, doors, and skylights can also increase the resale value of your home. Depending on the housing market in your area, the increased worth of your home with new, energy efficient windows could almost completely offset the cost.
These are all things you can discuss with your replacement window expert. Our recommendation is to speak to a window installation company versus just a salesperson. They’ll be able to provide the most beneficial information tailored specifically to your home.
Blocking the Sun From Outside the Home
Making the place you reside more efficient involves thinking outside the box. The box meaning the house, in this example.
According to Energy.gov, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard, double-pane windows becomes heat. Depending on the quality of windows, this could be higher or lower.
Preventing sunlight from creating a greenhouse out of your windows can have a huge impact on summertime cooling costs. And if temperatures on Earth continue to rise as they have for the last century, blocking direct sunlight will be ever increasingly important.
The following are great ways to block sunlight from penetrating windows as well as improve the look of your residence.
Trees and Shrubbery
If you plan on living in your home for several years, it’s a good idea to start thinking about landscaping. Trees and bushes take years to grow, but strategically placing them where they will block the Sun’s rays in the summertime will pay dividends when they mature.
There is plenty of information online if you plan to do this yourself. It can actually be a really run long term project for the family.
Or if you choose to hire a professional landscaper they can help with designing your yard. Any experienced landscaping company will be able to help you choose exactly what type of trees and plants that will provide adequate shade. They’ll also know exactly where to plant them to ensure they’re in the perfect location when they mature.
Window Awnings
There are a number of reasons why trees and plants aren’t always the best option. There may be obstructions that prevent them like buildings, a pool, or a property line. A person could be renting, or possibly planning to sell their home in the next few years. Maybe they just want a faster solution.
A popular solution for shading windows from sunshine is to purchase window awnings. The idea behind these is to create shade over the window when the Sun is above it without obstructing the view. They range from simple, unappealing, and cheap, to small additions to a house constructed of brick, wood, and shingles.
Costs for purchasing and installing window awnings can vary dramatically. Something aluminum and self install can start at well under $100 each. Some homeowners choose to invest in custom made awnings that match their home. These can go well into the thousands, depending on the materials used.
Shutters
A third option is to look into functioning shutters. Yes, these are used for more than just decoration!
Whether they’re located inside or outside the home, shutters add a charming, rustic look to the home. They’re also great at blocking out the sunlight whenever it’s beneficial.
While indoor shutters are the most common, for many homeowners, outdoor shutters may be a better option. In areas prone to bad storms or hurricanes, outdoor shutters can save your windows, and the carpet inside. These can also be purchased in countless designs and colors, so it’s easy to find an option that will look great on your home.
Get a Cool Roof
In the United States, Americans spend $40 billion annually to air condition buildings. Generating the electricity to power all of these air conditioners creates a massive amount of pollution.
Along with proper attic insulation, including radiant barrier and ventilation fans, an energy efficient roof is going drastically lower heating and cooling expenses.
So how does a cool roof work?
In some ways, it’s similar to the benefit of wearing light colored clothing on a hot day. While standard black roofs can reach temperatures of 150 degrees Fahrenheit, a cool roof can reduce this by more than 50 degrees.
Cool roofs can be installed in a number of different ways.
- Special reflective pigments can be added to reflect sunlight
- Roofs can be built up by using a base sheet, fabric reinforcement layers, then a protective surface layer
- Single ply or modified bitumen membranes can be added to the roofs
- Spray polyurethane foam roofs can be constructed in creating solid cool, reflective coatings
- Shingle roofs made with cool asphalt shingles
- Naturally reflective tile roofs
- Metal roofs made with metallic finishes that reflect the sunlight
There is one other option that is only possible in the right circumstances; green roofs. These have recently gained popularity, and are basically gardens that are installed on flat or shallow pit roofs. Green roofs can be expensive and need to be carefully installed, but they insulate very well and can greatly reduce the urban heat effect.
Conclusion
Paying attention to the affects humans have on the planet is important for many reasons. Whether someone’s main motivation for improving energy efficiency is financial, a feeling of obligation, or a combination of both, isn’t relevant. The fact that they’re committed to doing something positive is what’s important.
The items above are far from a complete list of ways to reduce inefficiency. But they are all very effective options that will be produce a positive change. Use them however they provide the most benefit. The most important factor is doing whatever you can to improve our planet.
Border West is a digital marketing agency in Austin, Texas committed to sustainability. Whether they’re working with moving companies or building a new website designed for contractor leads they’re focused of being Eco Friendly. Border West works with clients who promote sustainable products and services, as well as promoting them themselves.
If you’re interested in partnering with Border West, please fill out a contact form or contact them at the number below.