Making your home eco-Friendly may sound like a difficult task. In reality its less intimidating than you think. Eco-friendly lifestyle means being more watchful of how you use the energy in your home. Making modest changes inside and outside of your home can amount to saving energy and money. Here are tips to help you make your home eco-friendly.
Kitchen, bathroom and laundry room
In the kitchen use your microwave to reheat food versus the oven or stove. Use less water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them. Make sure all appliances in your home are Energy Star certified. They use less energy and are more efficient.
Build a composting bin for your kitchen waste. If you like gardening the kitchen waste turned into compost will help feed your plants. This is a better solution than sending your waste off to the landfill.
Install a water saving shower head in the bathroom. Purchase a low flow toilet. Install faucet aerators on your faucets to use less hot water. Use an Energy Star certified fan in your bathroom and install a timer switch.
The laundry room is a great area to reduce energy and save money. Wash clothing in cold water and hang clothing to dry. Pre-soak stained clothing versus washing twice. If your energy star washer has extended spin the clothing will dry faster in the dryer. Clean out your lint trap after every use.
Fix any water leaks around your home. If you don’t know how then call a plumber as soon as possible. Wasting water is wasting money but ignoring a leak in your home can become costly if it damages your home.
Living room, dining room, bedrooms and office
When purchasing tv’s, cordless phones and other components look for the energy star symbol. These products use anywhere from 25% to 75% less energy. Unplug any unused electronics when you can. Even when you are not using the electronics it will consume energy. Also remember to turn off all the lights when you are not going to be using the room.
Use blinds and curtains to keep heat in or out of the rooms depending on the season. Upgrade your windows with triple glazing on the North and East facing side of your home.
Check the seal around windows and doors and baseboards to prevent air leakage. Use foam gaskets behind electrical faceplates. Repair and seal any cracks in walls, ceilings or floors to stop air from escaping.
Utility/Furnace room more eco-Friendly
You utility room or furnace room will usually have hot water tank, furnace, boiler and a heat recovery system. Insulate your hot water pipes with insulating foam sleeves. Make sure to leave clearances near your venting pipes and your water heaters to prevent fires.
Purchase a tankless water heater because it only heats water that it uses. Clean or replace filters in your systems annually. If you need to replace your furnace buy an energy star certified furnace. Ensure your systems are clean and serviced. An oil fired furnace needs annual maintenance and a natural gas or propane furnace requires maintenance every couple of years.
Inspect your ventilation ducts on heating and cooling systems to make sure they are balanced, sealed and insulated. Poorly placed heating grills and ductwork means higher heating bills. If you are unsure about your system hire a professional to inspect your heating and cooling systems for problems.
Cleaning products and air quality in your home
Some cleaning products are very toxic and can be dangerous to humans and your pets. You can buy all natural cleaning products at your grocery store or a specialty store. Rather than using aerosols in your home which contain carcinogens consider using essential oils and air diffusers. Use caution if you have children and pets because some essential oils are harmful to them.
If you don’t have house plants consider buying a few. House plants improve the air quality in your home and keep your air free of pollutants. Again, be cautious with houseplants if you have small children and pets.
Lightbulbs
In addition to turning off lights you are not using, you should also update your bulbs to CFL bulbs. CFL bulbs are more energy efficient and can produce greater levels of lighting and consume less energy.
Home exterior and garage
Install awnings over windows to keep unwanted heat from entering your home in the summer. Inspect the caulking around windows and doors to prevent air leakage. Consider installing a heat pump to supply both heating and cooling in your home. Install solar energy for savings. It is safe, reliable and a low maintenance source of electricity and produces no pollution or emissions. Install motion sensors for your exterior lights and for your garage and use less energy.
Do you drive a car? Drive fuel efficient vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Consider walking or riding a bike to work to save costs. Hopefully, the tips listed in this article will help you reduce energy waste in your home and become more eco-friendly while doing your part to help save the environment.
