How to Go Green in Your Home

Whether you want to go green in your home because it’s good for the environment or you want to save money, there are quite a few ways to achieve going green in your home without a lot of work. Here are some tips that you can utilize for greener living.

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Switch To Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

If your electricity bill is high, it might be because of your light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs generally expend a lot of energy and put out a bunch of heat as well. By switching to LED light bulbs, you’ll use between 25-80% less energy on lighting.

If you replace all of your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, you can save a lot of money over the course of a year. Also, your light bulbs will last about 10 times longer.

Turn Off Lights

A lot of wasted energy is caused from leaving on lights. Make it a habit to turn off lights when you leave a room. Instead of turning on a light, open up your blinds or curtains. You might find that natural light is enough and there is no need to turn on a light.

Unplug Appliances

Many of us leave our appliances and tools plugged in all of the time. You might be surprised to find just how much energy they can waste on 'standby' mode when they remain plugged in. This is especially true for kitchen appliances and other tools.

Use Appliances Efficiently

Another way to go green is by efficiently using your appliances. For example, only run your washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher when they are full. If you only have a few dishes, hand-wash them instead of tossing them into the dishwasher. Instead of drying the entire load of clothes, get a hanging rack and hang some of your clothes to dry. All of these things will reduce your energy use.

Opt For A Programmable Thermostat

In order to keep your house at a comfortable temperature, your air conditioner uses a lot of electricity. If you opt for a programmable thermostat, you can cut down on how much your air conditioner runs. This type of thermostat helps you regulate your home’s temperature according to settings that you create ahead of time.

Fix Leaks As Soon As Possible

If you look up at your ceiling and notice a brown spot, you probably have a leak. This often isn’t that big of a deal and it most likely comes from crawl space moisture. Look around your home to make sure that none of your faucets are leaking.

Grow Plants Indoors

No matter where you live, it’s possible to grow plants indoors. In fact, you can order plants that are meant to specifically be grown indoors. These plants can act as natural air filters, and some are also particularly effective at absorbing harmful pollutants emitted from carpets, furniture and electronic equipment.

You can also go one step further by growing some of your own food. If you don't have a lot of space or you live in an apartment, consider growing container plants. Tomatoes, carrots, peas and strawberries can also be grown indoors.

Recycle and Compost

By recycling and composting, you can reduce on waste tremendously. Place a recycle bin in your kitchen, garage, and other areas that seem appropriate. This will make it easier for you to remember to recycle. Make sure you educate yourself on which materials can be recycled. In general, you can recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum and glass.

In conclusion, there are a lot of ways that you can go green. By utilizing the above methods, you can make simple changes that will have a huge impact. Going green may take some time, but the impact will be beneficial in the long-run.