With the perfect time of year rolling around for home improvements to begin, it’s good to keep an eye out for things that might not be the most eco-friendly. Maybe you’ve been in the same place for awhile or you’ve recently taken up new digs, but you might be surprised about what’s lurking in your home! Here are three things to keep an eye out for and their eco-friendly alternatives:

Outdoor lighting: Many homes have beautiful outdoor lighting in entryways or on pathways. If you leave these lights on all day or even year-round, you might be surprised at the energy bill! Consider switching to a motion sensor for your entryway lights and picking up some solar pathway lights. Your electric bill will thank you.

Bathroom fixtures: Is your toilet old? Showerheads from the dark ages? Make the eco-friendly move to replace toilets with low-flow models and install low-flow showerheads. For the shower, low-flow doesn’t mean low power – many of these are designed to give an exceptionally strong stream of water and still save you on your water bill.

Add ceiling fans: Turn off that air conditioner and make a low-cost breeze by adding more ceiling fans to your home. Not only do they circulate air better, they’ll save you on your electric bill throughout the warmer months. In the colder months, reverse the direction of the fan to help pull warm air upward and heat the house faster.

As your neighbor, we look forward to seeing you in between those home improvement projects around town. If you’re looking for something to do, don’t forget about our local events calendar for Ouray, Montrose, Ridgway and Telluride! Always updated with the latest local events, it’s you’re one-stop shop for what’s what in the San Juans.

The Staff at San Juan Realty, Inc.