This Sunday is Earth Day in Boston, where numerous events will occur around Boston to mark the momentous occasion. From picnics to community cleanups, you can be sure to find a fun event to help you celebrate this holiday in Boston!
As far as your Boston home goes, there are plenty of green, eco-friendly changes you could make around the house to honor Earth Day as well, this weekend and year-round. While buying fancy, energy-efficient technology and appliances are one option, other options are free or low-cost, like just changing daily habits. Not only will the changes save you money, but they will also increase your home’s value when it’s time to sell!
As your Boston real estate agent, I'd like to provide you with five affordable, energy-saving tips to try around your Boston home:
- Use green, eco-friendly cleaners in your Boston home while spring cleaning! A lot of the cleaners that you buy from the store contain chemicals that can actually trigger asthma and allergies. Plant-based products don’t contain these chemicals and can keep the air in your home safer to breathe. A lot of standard pantry items can also do the trick, like white vinegar and baking soda!
- Upgrade your insulation! Any insulation will help with keeping air conditioning inside in the summer and heat in the winter. This means adding insulation and weatherstripping to doors, windows, walls, attics and anywhere that would allow heat or air to escape. This can cut way back on energy use and energy costs! RealSimple.com recommends purchasing some thermal shades if you can’t afford new insulation. These do the same trick, keeping the sun out in the summer and the heat inside in the winter.
- Take your shoes off at the door! It sounds so simple, but it makes a world of difference. First, it keeps your home cleaner, which future homebuyers will appreciate. Second, you’ll have to do less washing of the floors, which means less water, less cleaning products and less of your own energy used up. It also will prevent outdoor pollution from getting spread around your interior, which will result in cleaner air and fewer allergies!
- Donate your unwanted belongings! Don’t ever toss old clothes, shoes, blankets or electronics. You can donate most of these items to local donation centers and organizations in Boston. That way, someone in need will be helped, and our landfills won’t fill up as fast. Even if something is worthless now, like old electronics, there is a certain way to dispose of them that doesn’t harm the environment.
- Plant a tree! After all, what better way to honor Earth Day than with a tree? You are replenishing Mother Nature with a form of life, the tree will help clean the air around your home, and your home will portray more curb appeal as the trees grow! You can start small. This Old House provided an article on how to properly plant a small tree.
Besides these five tips, you can also practice more of the obvious energy-saving habits, like turning lights off in empty rooms, turning the water off between uses, turning your heat or air conditioner down, using ceiling fans, and waiting to run the dishwasher or washing machine until you have a full load.
If you have some extra funds to spare, you could invest in energy-saving technology, like Energy Star appliances, energy-efficient light bulbs, water pumps for the sinks or a programmable thermostat.
Boston is a beautiful city to live in, let’s keep it that way! We can all contribute to the Earth Day celebration, either by planting a tree, changing a light bulb or even by taking public transportation one day instead of driving. Or, better yet, walk or ride your bike, and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine!
When you’re ready to buy a home in the Boston real estate market, contact me! When you’re ready to show off your home for sale in Boston, let me know. In the meantime, try out some of these green changes in your Boston home. You’ll save money in energy costs, help the environment and increase your home’s value! Why wouldn’t you do it? Happy Earth Day!
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
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