These days, more and more luxury homes are being designed with sustainability in mind. Eco-friendly features and natural materials are no longer rarities; they’re becoming part of the norm. Since luxury homes use up more energy due to their size and number of high-end appliances, these energy-efficient features can go a long way.
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Energy-efficient windows
When the sun reaches a window during a particularly hot day, it can make the room inside hotter. This results in a home’s HVAC system staying on for much longer. The same is true for colder weather. When the cold air gets inside, the heater will have to stay running for a longer period of time as well. Both instances end up consuming too much energy, which can harm the environment.
With an energy-efficient window, your room can maintain a consistent temperature regardless of the climate outside. These types of windows typically have around two to three glass panes and low emissivity glass, which is a special energy-efficient coating that reflects infrared light. When choosing an energy-efficient window, consider the frame, the window design and your home’s location as well.
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LED lighting
LED lighting offers many benefits compared to incandescent light bulbs. They can last between 15,000 to 100,000 hours (depending on the label) and they are more cost-effective. Furthermore, unlike incandescent light bulbs, LED bulbs produce less heat when in use. According to the Department of Energy, LED lights use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer as well.
When shopping for LED bulbs, determine what kind of light you want. Some LED bulbs emit a warmer, yellow-white light while others have a more neutral and cooler color temperature. Where you’ll be placing the LED light makes it easier to figure out what to buy. If you’re buying LED lights for your room, for example, you’d want to go with the one with a warmer light.
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Smart thermostats
Smart thermostats are the ultimate accessory for any high-end home. With this gadget, you can make your home more comfortable, improve the air quality, and save energy with just a few push of buttons.
By adapting to the weather conditions outside, a smart thermostat can regulate your home’s temperature and automatically adjust your heating and cooling systems. Smart thermostats can be controlled through a phone, tablet, or smart speaker. Aside from regulating the temperature, a smart thermostat also tells you about your monthly energy use.
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Vegetable gardens
There’s nothing like being able to grow your own food right in your backyard. Apart from enjoying fresh and organic produce, a vegetable garden is also good for the environment. Having your own vegetable garden reduces your carbon footprint because there is no need for packing, refrigeration, and transportation. And while you’re at it, you get to spend more time outdoors, enjoy the fresh air, and burn some calories.
While starting your own vegetable garden may be overwhelming, it’s very doable as long as you approach it little by little. The very step to having a vegetable garden is choosing a spot. Make sure it’s an area that gets around 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day. Once you know where you’ll be growing your own produce, you can already decide on how big your garden will be and the kind of vegetables you’ll be planting.
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Green walls
Like a vegetable garden, a green wall is another sustainable and eco-friendly feature that your luxury home should have. Also known as living walls or vertical gardens, a green wall is a vertical structure along the interior or exterior of a building. Green walls offer a number of benefits like acting as a natural layer of insulation, regulating the humidity levels, and reducing energy costs. The common plants used in a green wall are ferns, vines, and bromeliads.
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Solar panels
Luxury homes tend to consume more energy because they have more space. To make your luxury home in Palm Beach Gardens eco-friendlier, installing solar panels is a great idea. A solar panel is a device (that is usually placed on the roof of a home) that collects sunlight and converts it into usable electrical energy. It’s a cost-effective way to lower the carbon footprint of your house and save on energy bills.
There are three major types of solar panels: Monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. Depending on how much energy you currently use, you can determine which type is best and how many solar panels you will be needing.
IMPROVE YOUR WEST PALM BEACH LUXURY HOMES
For more tips and tricks on turning your property into an eco-friendly estate, reach out to The Telchin Group today. Known as the go-to experts for The Club at Ibis real estate, The Telchin Group has successfully buyers and sellers for nearly 20 years. Get in touch with The Telchin Group today at 561.301.0249 or send a message here to set a meeting.