Southern California residents have unique considerations when it comes to home improvement. To make your job as a SoCal homeowner easier, we’ve compiled this list of possible home improvements that are particularly suited to life in Southern California.
Drought-Resistant Gardens
SoCal residents are no strangers to drought. In fact, in recent years, drought has become an increasingly prevalent consideration in the lives of many Southern Californians. This has led many to wonder how they can make their home less demanding of water. One of the most effective ways to do this is by rendering your garden drought-resistant. Examples of this include incorporating cactuses and other native desert plants like sage, or replacing grass with stones or turf. Businesses like High Country Gardens can help you get started on transforming your garden so that it can withstand droughts.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning
Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, or HVAC, as they are commonly referred to altogether, are inestimably important aspects of any property. While Southern California residents may not experience the most drastic range of temperatures—they certainly do get hot days in the summer and cold days in the winter—it’s not like they’re worry-free. This is especially true as changing global temperatures cause temperatures to fluctuate away from their expected ranges.
If your home lacks heating or a central air-conditioning system, you should definitely consider adding these features as a means of improving your quality of life. Yet, even if you do already have an HVAC system, upgrading you heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning units can be absolutely essential to ensuring that your home is comfortable and unaffected by the outside elements. Just be sure to look locally in order to find contractors that understand your climate’s needs. For example, if you’re in Pasadena, check for HVAC contractors in Los Angeles; if you live in Oceanside, consider HVAC contractors in San Diego.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
Another way to improve your home so that it has less impact on the environment is by making the lighting in your property more energy-efficient. One of the simplest ways to do this is to replace the bulbs you currently use. While traditional incandescent bulbs are the most commonplace and widely-used, they are not as efficient as some of their counterparts. For example, bulbs like halogen incandescent, compact fluorescent lamps, and light-emitting diodes can save you money in the long-run by using less energy than traditional incandescent lighting.
Yet, replacing bulbs is not the only way you can improve the lighting in your home to save money. “Smart” lighting systems, which can utilize motion-sensors to ensure that lights are turned off when they are not being used, are another effective way to use less energy. Certain systems even depict for you an analysis of your electric usage so that you can make more responsible decisions about the way you use electricity. Check out Caseta Wireless if you are looking for ways to incorporate smart lighting into your home.
Windows
Replacing your windows may seem unnecessary, but it can greatly improve your quality of life. While your current windows might seem to do their job well enough, you may not realize the ways in which they are making your life more difficult. For example, windows can get harder to move as they age, which can make even the simple task of getting some fresh air a chore. Furthermore, if your windows begin to stick with tenacity, they may shatter under a force opening.
Yet, these quality of life issues are not the most serious of the problems that accompany old windows. If your windows do not fit snugly and tightly, this can create a draft in your home. Not only is this physically uncomfortable (especially in the winter months), but it can cause your utility bills to skyrocket if you are balancing the loss of warmth by utilizing your heat. Thus, ensuring you improve the state of your windows will enable you to live more comfortably and with less of a financial burden.
Truth be told, SoCal homeowners are blessed with California’s climate. Unless you own a home close to the beach (erosion) then most renovations are going to be for aesthetic or expansion purposes. However, the ones listed here are worth considering, even if only for functionality and efficiency.
