Tips for Making Your Garage and Home Greener

Most of the time, the garage is a “catch all” space in your home. It becomes the land of misfits for junk that you don’t need or aren’t using right now. Often times, unwanted items piles up causing not only a disorganized mess, but a potentially hazardous situation with improperly stored dangerous chemicals and materials.

The garage can be used for more than just storing outdoor chemicals and tools. It can be a functional space in your home that not only serves a purpose, but can make your house greener and more eco-friendly. Here are some tips to making your garage and your home greener and more efficient.

Update fixtures

We all know by now that traditional light bulbs and light sources consume more energy than new LED lighting. Replace old light fixtures and light bulbs with energy efficient ones. Energy efficient LED lighting not only lasts longer, but will save you a good chunk of money in the long run.

Insulation is key

Insulation is essential to improving the efficiency of your garage and making it more eco-friendly.

Install insulation to walls, ceilings, pipes, and ductwork. This will keep heating and cooling costs down during peak months. Update old windows with Energy-Star insulated windows. Use caulking between floors and walls to seal up cracks.

One of the most important elements to good insulation is a garage door and the R-value. Most garage doors are made out of thin, flimsy materials that won’t keep your garage or home insulate properly. The R-value of a garage door measures the thermal efficiency. Garage doors with a high R-value provide greater insulation for your garage. When your garage is well insulated, this will help improve the efficiency of your home as well.

Hazardous material safety

Making your garage eco-friendly also includes proper storage and disposal of hazardous materials. If materials like paint, chemicals, auto fluids, and lawn care products aren’t stored and disposed of correctly, it can be harmful to you, your family and the environment. Store chemicals like antifreeze, poisonous lawn products, and other chemicals on a high shelf out of the reach of children and animals. It’s also recommended to keep each material in a tightly closed container to avoid spills or mixture of chemicals. If a spill occurs, wipe up and clean immediately. If the spill involves oil, use absorbent material such as cat litter or clay to keep the oil from penetrating and staining your concrete floor. Even the smallest amount of hazardous materials can be a health concern to people, animals and the environment.

Conserve water

Instead of using water from the hose or faucet to wash your car and other outdoor products, use rain water. Attach a funnel system to the roof of your garage and channel rainwater into a barrel. This water can be used for outdoor use and help reduce your eco footprint and save money on your water and sewage bill.

There are several different ways to improve the efficiency of your home and reduce your carbon footprint on the environment. Action Door can help turn your garage from a wasteful space into an energy efficient and safe area for the whole family. We provide a variety of insulated garage doors that will not only improve the efficiency of your garage, but the overlook of your home. Get a free estimate today!