You’ve probably noticed that “green,” environmentally friendly products pop up everywhere from television commercials to magazine articles. These products claim to help you take a step closer to a green lifestyle. While the claims are definitely true, the advertisements fail to tell you that the products work best when used within a green system.
In order for the energy-saving products to work at their full potential, they must be inside a “green” home. A green home is one that is well insulated throughout the entire home and is sealed off from air leaks. In other words, the home’s envelope is sealed to protect the interior from outside weather.
If we call a home a green system, then what exactly is a green product?
Simply put, a green product is anything that you put inside your home to reduce energy consumption. Some examples of green products include energy efficient heating and cooling systems, solar panels, a programmable thermostat, and other inventions designed to help you save money and energy in your home.
Energy-saving products such as those mentioned above play a major role in conserving energy and money—but the first step is turning your home system into a green one.
Insulation stops heat transmission. This means that if it’s cold outside, the cold air won’t enter your home because it can’t pass through the insulation. Insulation helps you to control your home’s temperature; the heat that you put into your home will not leave your home.
Along with insulation, air sealing also contributes to making your home green. Sealing techniques not only stop air from leaking into your home, but also throughout your home. An insulated and sealed home is a green home.
If you install green products in a run-down home, or simply a home that lacks proper insulation and sealing, some energy will still be conserved. The key word here is “some.” The products are generally designed to work within a green home. Since the green home has the ability to lock in the effects of the green products, the products themselves will not have to work as hard.
For example, a green heating and cooling system will have a smaller workload if the green home’s insulation holds the controlled temperature inside. Green homes alone are extremely energy-effective, but when paired with green products, the energy conservation skyrockets.
With all of the different possibilities out there to make your home more earth-friendly, there is the daunting question of where to start. We’ll make this step easy for you: seal off your home first. After your home is insulated and sealed, the green products that you install will be sealed off from outdoors. They will perform more effectively and your energy and money savings will increase.
