Being Greener At Home Is Easy, Follow These Simple Tips
Check your local energy provider and see if they offer any green alternatives. Although they may cost a few pennies more you know your money isn’t being used to further destroy the environment. It’s also worth learning more about alternative energy sources.
Going green isn’t about buying products or spending money. There are many ways to go green and save money.
As you replace items that wear out in your home, purchase the green equivalent. Many green products are now comparable in price to their non-green alternatives and the money you will save can make them actually far cheaper .
Low flow toilets and shower-heads are being introduced in all hardware stores. Replace these when remodeling and you will end up saving a lot of water and therefore, money. This might not be the cheapest product, but if you are replacing either item you will be doing yourself and the environment a favor by going low flow. Many styles are available as some cities have gone all low flow. Manufacturers scrambled to get many styles of low flow toilets and shower-heads to the market in time. In case you’re wondering you won’t even notice that it is low flow.
Properly insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes. This will stop wasteful heat loss and on the energy used to heat the water.
Check that your thermostat is programmable or replace it with one that is. These are very easy to use and they can be set to different temperatures during the day or night or while you are on holidays. Using a non-programmable thermostat is a great way to keep your furnace or air conditioner running full blast without your knowledge. There are also many alternative energy sources you can use to heat your home such as solar, geothermal or biofuels.
Ceiling fans are a very green way to both cool and heat the room. Switch the fan to reverse for the cooler months to keep the warm air circulating around the room.
Change your air filter at least every three months. Not only do you get rid of dust and pollens but your appliance will run easier. They burn more energy when they have to work hard to suck air through a dust clogged filter.
As they fail replace your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFB). They use less power and they last for years longer than the regular bulbs. Studies show that replacing 5 of the most used light bulbs in the house with CFB will save you $80 a year. If you change your bulbs, this is the place you will see your most drastic savings in energy costs.
Unplug your cell phone charger as well as other unused appliances such as computers or games consoles. These electronics draw a little bit of power 24 hours a day, everyday. That adds up to a lot of energy that could be saved.
Purchase local produce at farmers markets. Fresh produce tastes better and is much healthier. When cooking, see if you can use a toaster oven rather than heating up the big oven. Implement a plan so that you have a certain number of days you have food that you don’t have to cook. If is fun to try to figure out what to eat and it is healthier for you. A more radicle approach is to try solar cooking or a solar oven in the garden. A great alternative to a BBQ in summer!
There are many techniques to living a green lifestyle. Try out these tips. Collect other tips and implement them slowing so as to not shock you or your family with all of the new ways of doing things. After using these techniques you should compare your energy bills to see how much you have saved. You will also be doing a lot to help out the environment.
