Nearly all homeowners have a list of improvements to tackle each year. Experts recommend a focus on security and finding ways to lower utility costs. The tips below can help you organize those goals. If you start on January 1, your spring planting process can align with those goals.
Plan a more sustainable yard
Water is a precious resource. To save water for food crops and shade trees, study your options from Next 2 Natural Turf and visualize how you might change up your yard. As you study the layout of your backyard, you can also look for ways to support pollinators.
There are many food-producing plants that are quite beautiful in the landscape. Deep-green leafy vegetables such as Swiss chard can be a wonderful foil for veggies like eggplant and cucumber vines. A single zucchini or summer squash plant will produce large yellow blossoms and bring in pollinators. Additionally, you can add a water feature with a solar fountain to keep water moving for birds and bees alike.
Add skylights for ventilation and light
If you already have skylights but struggle to open them, it’s a good idea to confirm that they are secure. Skylights take a lot more pressure than windows, and the risk of a broken skylight can be deadly. A failing hinge mechanism can also point toward a frame that might soon leak.
Whether you’re replacing an existing skylight or adding a new one, the professionals at SolarGreen Daylighting and Venting can help you choose a solar-powered skylight to bring in light and increase your ventilation.
Because heat rises, the top 2 feet of any room in your home may be the hottest. Warm summer days can cause heat to stack up high and linger in your home all night. By venting your space by opening your skylight as the sun goes down, you can take a load off your AC system and enjoy a cooler home all night long.
Add motion-sensor lights indoors and out
If you have children and struggle to get them to turn off lights, consider adding motion-sensor puck lights to areas of your home. Puck lights with motion-sensor capabilities can increase your safety in the kitchen; task lighting will come on as you enter the space, and you can make coffee or get a glass of water without having to turn on lights at all. Overhead lights can simply be left off.
Exterior motion-sensor lights can be a simple way to increase the security around the perimeter of your home. If power is not easily accessible, consider adding a solar-powered motion-sensor light. These handy tools will brighten dark areas in your yard and along the sides of your home where intruders, both human and animal, may try to hide.
Simple changes in exterior lighting early in the year can greatly increase your security. Growing your own food can both beautify your yard and lower your food bill. Find more ideas from TheHomeMag on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
