Home Exterior: Eco-Friendly Checklist

Many people go straight to cleaners and other products when they think of sustainable alternatives or transformations, but you can’t forget about the exterior of your home as well.

Especially when it comes to energy consumption, fortifying the outside of your home is crucial.

This is just a small list of things to consider, some being more attainable in the short-term than others.

Want to check out more than just this topic? See our full eco-friendly home checklist!

Checklist

  • Harvest and use your rainwater
  • Shift to double-pane windows
  • Weatherproofing your house from draughts and air leaks
  • Solar water heater
  • Cool roof
  • Natural, renewable, and recycled building materials
  • Install photovoltaic panels on your roof
  • Solar panels

Download & Print

You can make a copy of this checklist in Google Sheets, allowing you to customize however you see fit. You can also print a copy from Google Sheets once it’s copied if desired.

View the sheet first and make a copy via File > Make a copy or simply click the “Make a Copy” button below.

Google Sheets Checklist
Make a Copy

Harvest and use your rainwater

 Impact: High
 Effort: Easy
 Cost: A typical durable large rain barrel can cost anywhere from $40 - $80.

We often have fresh, clean water falling from the sky that we can use for all sorts of things - but few people collect it. You can reduce your water use and reliance on municipal water by using rain barrels. However, this isn't legal in all states unfortunately.

Shift to double-pane windows

 Impact: Medium
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: Depending on the installation company, window choice, and size of your home, window replacement can get pretty costly. According to Forbes, the average cost of a mid-range window is about $600 per window, which may be a bit lower than the real cost if you go for the most energy efficient option. (1) However, the good news is that over time, you can save significantly on energy cost due to efficient windows and recoup your investment.

The type of windows that you have can make a tremendous difference in your house's insulation and ability to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Weatherproofing your house from draughts and air leaks

 Impact: Medium
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: This could cost around $10 - $20 for the proper sealants, but heavily depends on the weak points in your weatherproofing. Over time, this will save you money by reducing the need for heat and air conditioning.

Properly sealing and insulating around windows, doors, and other air entry points in your house can make a significant difference in the indoor temperature. This can reduce your reliance on your furnace or A/C unit to regulate the temperature, saving energy and money!

Solar water heater

 Impact: High
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: The cost can vary significantly, averaging around $3,400 for parts and installation, but can save hundreds per year compared to standard water heater costs.

Solar water heaters may cost a few thousand dollars to have installed, but the savings are significant. Estimated utility cost savings from a solar water heater are between 50 - 80%! (2)

Cool roof

 Impact: High
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: Like most roofing materials, cool roof costs can vary depending on the size of your home and level of materials you want. However, with installation, cool roof costs are usually somewhat comparable to traditional roofing or a little more expensive.

A cool roof is specifically designed to reflect sunlight, which absorbs less energy and heat - helping to keep the inside cool.

Natural, renewable, and recycled building materials

 Impact: High
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: Cost will significantly vary depending on the size and complexity of the remodel or build, as well as the durability needs of the materials for interior or exterior use.

If you're building a new house, installing an addition, or remodeling - considering natural and recycled building materials like recycled steel, cork, reclaimed wood, bamboo, or clay can make a big impact. While this is a one-time use and not a habit over time, the savings can really add up depending on the size and complexity of your job.

Install photovoltaic panels on your roof

 Impact: Massive
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: Varies significantly based on size, location, and installation.

Photovoltaic panels are slightly different from solar panels in the way that they convert energy. They can be used to compliment each other rather than competing or being redundant.

Solar panels

 Impact: Massive
 Effort: Severe
 Cost: Prior to any available tax incentives, an average residential system will cost between $15,000 and $25,000 (3)

Solar panels on your home may be a large undertaking, but they can save monthly energy costs significantly. A home with solar panels' carbon footprint is approximately 20 times less than that of a home powered by fossil fuels (4).

Article Sources ↓

Natural Replacements references research from industry experts and reputable industry publishers to support claims or data in our content when applicable. Learn more about our publishing standards and practices in our editorial guidelines.

  1. Forbes - How Much Does A Window Replacement Cost?
    Accessed: October 5, 2022
  2. Angi - How Much Does a Solar Water Heater Cost?
    Accessed: October 5, 2022
  3. COOL Effect - Carbon Footprint of Solar Panel Manufacturing
    Accessed: October 5, 2022
  4. Center for Sustainable Energy - How much does a typical residential solar electric system cost?
    Accessed: October 5, 2022

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Citations for This Article

APA

Plonkey, Jim. (October 30, 2022). Home Exterior: Eco-Friendly Checklist. Natural Replacements. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/household/home-exterior-eco-friendly-checklist/

MLA

Plonkey, Jim. "Home Exterior: Eco-Friendly Checklist." Natural Replacements, https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/household/home-exterior-eco-friendly-checklist/

Chicago

Plonkey, Jim. "Home Exterior: Eco-Friendly Checklist." Natural Replacements, Last modified October 30, 2022. https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/household/home-exterior-eco-friendly-checklist/

Jim Plonkey

Jim Plonkey is a Co-founder of Natural Replacements. A digital marketing professional with a passion for sustainability, Jim lives in Southeast Michigan and enjoys traveling to new places, spending time outdoors - kayaking, hiking, and gardening, and yoga.

Content on the Natural Replacements is produced under the guidance of our editorial standards.

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Written By: Jim Plonkey

Updated: October 30, 2022

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