Becoming environmentally aware and going green is important in your home, for the sake of your family, your community, and the planet as a whole. While doing so, however, it is easy to overlook the garage. The garage takes up a considerable space, and there are several ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce your environmental impact, even there. Below are some ways to make your garage eco-friendly.
1. Lighting
You may think that a garage doesn’t need windows, but in reality, installing them can help make your garage eco-friendlier. Windows allow for natural sunlight to help you consume less power using electric lighting during the day. They also help warm up your garage on sunny winter days. Install some black-out blinds to keep it cooler inside during the summer.
For light during nights and for darker areas, opt for LED light bulbs as they are known for energy-efficiency. They are also very durable and offer unmatched brightness.
2. Insulation
A garage can easily trap heat in the summer and cold in the winter, making it harder and more expensive to cool or heat the rest of the house (unless you have a detached garage) – insulation is even more vital if your garage itself is heated. For the walls, you will want to thoroughly seal the cracks with caulking, and in some cases with wear and tear, add a layer of insulation before sealing your walls.
On the other hand, you will definitely want to have another look at your garage door, for it is one of the main heat-leaks in any garage. Some doors are designed to be more energy-efficient than others; ones that contain eco-friendly insulation materials will help maintain the temperature in your garage.
In addition, the use of weather-stripping or a door threshold seal to line the bottom of your garage door opening will further help keep outdoor weather out. You will want to get the help of garage doors Perth to help you optimize your upgraded, eco-friendly garage.
3. Electronics
Many people use the garage as an extension to their home, hosting a fridge, a deep freezer, a washing machine or a dryer. While these are all essential appliances in every home, shopping around to find the energy-efficient models would be a great plus.
It may seem like you are paying a chunk of money for a new machine now, but you will be saving more in energy costs in the long run, and preventing the production of tons of greenhouse gases.
4. Park Responsibly
In addition to environmentally friendly lighting solutions, insulation, and energy-saving appliances, you can also consider the remaining aspects of your garage space. You can install solar panels to generate clean, renewable energy; collect rainwater from the garage roof that you can use to wash your car; or build a living roof or a green roof on top of your garage with beautiful flowers and herbs that will leave your driveway smelling fresh all season.
