Tips for Making Your Home Self-Sustainable

April 14, 2020

Wouldn’t it be nice if your utility bills were $0? Living in a self-sustaining home can make that dream a reality. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, self-sustainable homes in Poulsbo, WA supply all of their own water, electricity, sewer and even food. You can have one built from the ground up, or make the necessary renovations to your existing home.

Generally, the smaller the home, the easier it will be to make it entirely self-sustaining. However, every little bit counts—even if your pre-existing home is large, making some simple changes will help reduce your utility costs and your carbon footprint.

Benefits of a self-sustainable home

Self-sustainable homes aren’t just good for the environment and reducing utility costs—they’re also good for your home’s resale value and more.

For starters, self-sustainable homes are often more durable, thanks to their sturdy, recycled building materials, making it less likely that you’ll need to repair or replace components over the years. When building a sustainable home from scratch, builders will take care to harness the environmental features of the property, like maximizing the natural light that enters (therefore reducing the need to run electric lights). In turn, the careful construction and self-sustaining features increase the home’s resale value.

Now more than ever, buyers are looking for ways to reduce their costs while being kind to the environment. Here are some benefits of self-sustainable homes in Poulsbo, WA:

  • Solar panels: Your home and appliances rely on electricity, so you’ll need a way to generate it naturally. Solar panels harness the energy of the sun, and some models can store the generated electricity for later. They often come with tax credit opportunities, which offsets their initial cost.
  • Septic system: You’ll need a way to deal with your waste. Consider installing a septic system to dispose of your waste and wastewater without harming the environment.
  • Vegetable garden: Self-sustainable homes generate food. Planting a vegetable garden and fruit trees can help provide fresh, healthy food for your entire family.
  • Collect rainwater and drill wells: Collecting rainwater and drilling wells on your property will give you access to fresh water to feed your plants, wash your dishes and laundry, cook, bathe and drink.
  • Heat generator: You’ll need a heat source—wood-burning and pellet stoves can put out a surprising amount of warmth for a fraction of the cost of a furnace. You may need more than one, so talk to a contractor about the possibilities.
  • Compost heap: Finally, a simple compost heap is a responsible way to deal with food scraps and other biodegradable materials, and will enhance your vegetable garden’s output.

Self-sustainable homes in Poulsbo, WA

When you’re ready to build a self-sustainable home in Poulsbo, WA or renovate your existing home, call the team at Coyote Hollow Construction. We have been renovating homes since 1990, and make an effort to use sustainable practices whenever possible. Reach out to us today for a free one-hour consultation—we can help you refine your ideas and give you an estimate.

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