Today many more people are interested in eco friendly homes and for a wide range of reasons. At the end of the day we should understand that we are only custodians of this planet and not the owners, therefore it is down to each of us as individuals to ensure we leave a legacy which would be acceptable to the generations to come.

The effect we have on the natural environment is now all too clear to see. Unfortunately problems such as global warming, destruction of habitat, and the pollution of the oceans and the air needs action on a national and global level, but this does not mean that you should not be taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint and overall impact on the planet.

By choosing to have an eco friendly home you can also be saving yourself a considerable amount of money. There is no denying that the cost of electricity is now far greater than we could have even imagined just a decade ago. An eco friendly home would integrate concepts that would help to reduce the amount you are paying to your utility company by a massive degree. To start with you should check out the latest solar panels and solar water heaters that are available in the market.

If you believe that solar is not an efficient power source then you would be seriously mistaken. There have been great developments and advances in the design of solar panels and photovoltaic cells that now mean it is possible to generate all the electricity you need without having to give a single cent to a power company. In fact you may be able to sell excess energy back to the national grid for a tidy profit. The number of solar panels that you would require would depend upon your personal circumstances and requirements.

You can reduce your consumption of electricity by switching to devices and appliances that are more energy efficient. For example the washing machines, TVs, and other products that are sold today use far less power than the models available just a few years ago.

Then there is the home\’s heating. It is often this that is the biggest consumer of energy in a residential property. You can take steps to ensure that your home is correctly insulated; this would also reduce the need for air conditioning in the hot summer months. If you are considering building a new home then it can be aligned with the sun\’s path in such a way to maximize natural heating.

Hot water also requires a serious amount of energy. You can now install a solar powered water heating system that would completely do away with the need for a traditional boiler. Of course you also need to consider the climatic conditions in your region including seasonal variations.

There are many other ways to make a home eco friendly. For example rain water harvesting would help ensure you are not unnecessarily wasting this most precious of natural resources.

Author Bio: Dale Baker has the ultimate inside scoop on how to pick the right solar panels for your home or business. http://www.top3dogreview.com/blog

Category: Home Management
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