Going green is one of the hottest trends in the home renovation world these days. This is because more Americans than ever are realizing that making their homes more environmentally friendly means reducing their overall energy bills. When your house is more energy efficient, it uses up fewer resources, and so you end up having to spend less money paying for utilities like gas and electric. Making your house into a well-oiled waste-free machine may require you to invest a little bit more into your home renovation project now, but it will pay off in the long run when you are saving money and saving the environment at the same time. Here are some of the easiest ways to make your house more green:

Invest in well-insulated siding

One of the most important things to remember when making your house more environmentally friendly is that you want to make sure that it is insulated as best as possible. This helps to reduce your overall energy consumption. If you have to redo the siding on your house or if you are adding on an addition, this is the perfect time to make sure that your houses outer materials are the best quality you can afford. On the other hand, if you choose shoddy materials to cut costs in the short-term, you will likely end up spending a fortune on your heating bills as the warm air escapes out into the cold all winter long. Either that, or you will have to seriously increase the number of sweaters in your wardrobe as you shiver through yet another wintry month with the heat on low because you just cannot afford to turn it up. So make sure that your siding is well-insulated. Some varieties even come with energy efficiency guarantees!

Install double-paned windows

If you are considering window replacement, there is only one way to go: double-paned windows. Your old windows will pale in comparison to these energy efficient babies, which help to trap the warm air in the colder months and the cool air when it gets hot. They work the same way that your houses outer materials do to regulate temperatures and make it so that you do not have to spend significant amounts of time adjusting the thermostat. Another benefit of double-paned windows is the fact that they increase the security of your home: a robber who wants to break in will have a hard time bashing in two thick, fortified layers of glass!

Turn off the lights whenever you leave a room

This is not a home renovation tip, but merely a common sense one. Far too many individuals will allow the lights in their homes to stay on all day and night even when they are not using them, simply out of carelessness or lack of attention. But make it a rule to always turn off the light when you leave a room. You will see all of your hard work pay off in the savings you receive on your next electric bill!