Mother Earth is My Best Friend: Eco-friendly options for your home

By Iona Carina of The Chicago Real Estate Blog



With so many people growing more and more concerned about the environment, buying a new home these days now includes a mandatory discussion of the home’s “green elements.” As a result, many buildings in Chicago are now installing environmentally-friendly housing features. So if you find yourself with a growing conscience about your carbon footprint, here are some examples of technologies in buildings that help preserve the environment.

Solar Roof Panels

I can tell you from personal experience that solar panels are great in cutting electricity bills. Basically, panels on your roof store the heat from the sun and transform it into energy that can be used for electricity in your house. At around $700 a panel, they might seem expensive at first. But if you think about all the electricity bills you’ll save on in the future, solar panels are definitely worth it. Plus, no one can turn off the sun so you pretty much have the energy for as long as you stay under the solar roof panels.

Recycled Materials

Yes, you can build your house from recycled materials! And no, your house will never be like a huge trash container. There are companies who convert different materials like wood, paper, plastic, glass, steel and many others to beautiful cabinets, flooring materials, doors, etc for different parts of your house. As recycling those materials cuts energy consumption and saves us from the pollution, you’re really doing a favor to the mother earth.

LED

Light Emitting Diodes (or LED lights) are very energy efficient. While most light bulbs turn most of their energy into heat (that’s why you cant’t touch a light bulb when it’s on), LED lights only brightens your house. Another benefit from using LED lights is that they last much longer. They actually last up to 10 times longer than regular lights so you won’t have to change the bulbs as often anymore.

Heated Flooring

No more thick socks in the house! Wouldn’t that be nice? With a normal heater, you can lose the heat from any passages in the house. But heated flooring keeps the heat from escaping. In addition to the environmental benefits, it will definitely create a really comfortable winter in your house.

There are also many other sustainable housing features and materials that you can use to create an environmentally friendly house. So the next time you search for new homes in Chicago, you might want to consider some eco-friendly options.