Tips for a green home
Green is the new thing !
Apart from an environmental protection purpose, energy savings raise economic concerns. Yet daily contributions and structural works can reduce your bills by up to 30%, and even give you a right to tax credits of up to 32%. The following article will thus list you many ways to be environmentally responsible, from the total refurbishment of your house, to the simplest daily contributions both internal and external.
Inside your home
Installation of a brand new ecological system can be difficult as it is quite expensive and often requires complete refurbishments or at least major structural works. However, in the long run, they are worth the price as they guarantee energy and money savings. Here are some example of reliable systems and materials you can find on the market.
Regarding heating type, solar panels are mainly set up on south facing sides of roofs. They are often expensive, nonetheless since the 1st of January 2012 they give you a right to a tax credit of 32%. They are obviously most efficient in sunny areas such as Languedoc Roussillon or PACA.
As for geothermal heating systems, it guarantees a complete autonomy in terms of heating. However, its installation implies major structural work on big flat piece of land, which may not be possible depending on the area you live in. The system works thanks to its pumps that take heat from the ground and then release it all over the house. Gardens or lands should be 1 to 2 times bigger than the area to be heated in order to ensure a maximum efficiency. In addition, it gives you a right to a tax credit of 26%.
The aerothermal system also works with a heat pump but requires less structural work and a small piece of land to be installed. Nonetheless, if living in a cold area such as Rhone-Alpes, you might need a backup system during winter. This system gives you a right to a tax credit of 15% (only for air-water systems though).
Wood-heating systems (biomass heating system) are the most common ecological options in France. They comprise of wood-burning stoves, closed fireplaces, and so forth. They are very efficient and wood is not an expensive fuel. They give right to a tax credit of 15%. Careful, some outside space might be required to stock up logs.
However, if deciding to use an ecological heating type, one should not forget about good insulation. Otherwise, energy savings will not be optimised. Double gazing is then the key, even though, too many people still give it a miss. Yet installation of double gazing windows can reduce your bills up to 30%! Furthermore, since the 2007 Granule Environment Forum they give you a right to grants and a tax credit of 18%.
On a daily basis, even the smallest of gestures can make a difference, and it is always a good thing to remind ourselves what can be done to be environmentally responsible. When it comes to water waste, over-consumption can easily be avoided. You can find water-saving devices almost everywhere, they can easily be fixed on taps, shower heads and inside WCs (prices vary from 8 to 30€).
Recycling is also something to think of. However, some may not know how to get started but, you can always find some information by contacting the local administration. They will provide you with a list of recycled items and rules of collection. As most commercial ads end up in the bin, another smart thing to do is to ask for “stop ads” stickers. They will help you reduce wastes of paper and space!
Outside your home: the power of green.
If you love gardening, taking care of the environment may be a concern when looking for a good fertilizer or trying to get rid of insects. As most of you may have heard, many fertilizers and pesticides contain potentially harmful chemicals. However, natural and efficient solutions exist.
Stock up at the back of the garden, compost is a homemade mix of vegetable and green wastes. It takes a few weeks or months to turn into a good fertilizer that will improve soil quality. Plant purring and horse manure are also used as green fertilizers These are harmless alternatives to chemical products and good for the growth of plants and flowers. As for mulching, it will prevent thorough coverage of the weeds and favour proliferation of “good” insects that will keep plant-eating insects away.
And last but not least, never underestimate the power of rainwater! Free and ecological, it is the most appropriate source of water supply for gardening, as it does not contain chlorine or limestone. It is better to water your plants during the morning or the evening, as it avoids evaporation of water. Depending on the region you live in, rainwater recovery will be essential: Brittany for example, reaches its rainwater quota whereas Languedoc Roussillon has a smaller precipitation rate.
Hopefully after reading these few lines, you will let yourself turn to the green side. Afterwards, if you feel like travelling in havens of greenery, visit Puy de Dome or Vaucluse, two departments offering beautifully preserved landscapes such as Meandre de Queuille and Lispach Lake.
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