Celebrate Earth Month With These Green-Friendly Home Insurance Tips
This April is Earth Month, a time dedicated to environmental education, impact, and appreciation. It’s a great opportunity to observe the wonder of the planet and to take steps to help improve. Individuals can contribute to Earth month by monitoring their own carbon footprint. You can drive less, opt for sustainable products or reduce your electricity- the world will thank you! But did you know that some of these environmentally friendly practices can also lower your home insurance premiums? Find out how you can save some green by going green!
Get smart!
Smart home technologies are becoming increasingly popular across the nation. Smart home devices allow their owners to connect to various systems remotely via their smartphones. This can include heating and cooling systems, lighting, water usage or security devices. The ability to regulate your home’s usage can reduce wasted energy and ultimately save on your utility bill as well.
Some insurers are starting to offer discounts on home insurance for sensor-enabled homes that will notify the homeowner if there is a threat- ultimately lowering the insured’s risk for a claim. For example, having a security system can lower your home insurance premium.
Modernize plumbing and systems
Installing energy-efficient pipes and plumbing systems will reduce the amount of water wasted in your home. Not only is this beneficial for the environment, but it also reduces the risk of cracking/burst pipes, leaks or poor water quality. This ultimately reduces your risk of having a water-related home insurance claim.
New, energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems can improve energy efficiency by maintaining a consistent, comfortable temperature year-round, and reducing the incidence of fire as well as frozen pipes.
Appliances and Electricity
Another simple way to reduce your ecological footprint around your home is to choose energy-efficient appliances or use LED lightbulbs. Both options use less energy but don’t sacrifice quality. If you need more incentives to go green, Ontario offers rebates for eco-friendly upgrades such as $5,000 toward approved window replacements and $20,000 for Energy-Star ground source heat pumps.
Click rebates to see all the available grants in Canada. Note you can modify your search for Ontario grants only, residential, commercial, etc.
Sustainability and the environment are hot-button topics in 2022. If you recently have made “green-friendly” changes to your home, talk to your Merit broker. You can potentially qualify for savings on your home insurance while reducing your ecological footprint!
