It’s becoming more and more popular to be environmentally conscious and go green. It probably feels like it’s too difficult or expensive to do for your own home, but there are simple and efficient ways you can change to conserve energy. An added bonus is that many of these easy fixes also save you money in the long run!
Change Your Lightbulbs
Switch out the light bulbs in your home for CFLs, or Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs. The regular incandescent lightbulbs that most homes have give off far more heat than light and have a shorter lifespan than CFLs do. Each CFL can save up to 75 percent in energy used, and the lightbulbs last up to ten times longer, meaning you’ll have to change them far less often.
Strategic Tree Placing
While this one will cost a little money, the savings per year will soon more than make up for it. By strategically placing trees in close to your house in places that can shade things like the air conditioner, you can lower energy costs and save up to $250 on cooling and heating every year. The trees can help insulate the house and the unit so less air conditioning or heating is being wasted by leaking outside the house.
Recycling vs. Landfills
It’s well known that many landfills are filling up fast while still more garbage, including plastics and aluminum, ends up in water like rivers or oceans. By choosing to take your recyclable materials to a recycling center, or through your trash agency’s recycling collection, you can save space in landfills as well as cut down on pollution and conserve resources such as trees and oil.
Unplug When Not in Use
Did you know that even when an electronic is off or when a charger is not attached to its device, it is still using electricity? When electronics are powered down, they still use up to a quarter, or 25 percent, of the power in the home. By unplugging or turning off the power supply strips for these devices and chargers when they aren’t being used, you can save money on your electricity bill and conserve energy.
Labels Matter
If you want to make sure that your home and its items, such as appliances and electronics, are green friendly, then you’ll want to check your labels carefully. Anything with an Energy Star seal on it means that it fits certain standards for energy efficiency. This can also include items on the home, such as windows, roofs, and doors as well. Pay close attention to the labels or ask a store employee if they know if the product is Energy Star or not.
Not only do the items with the Energy Star seal help save energy and save you money, but they can also make you eligible for certain tax breaks and credits. It’s something worth looking up on their website.
Going green doesn’t have to break the bank in order to be effective and save money. Don’t scare yourself into not trying because it seems difficult.
Paul David Pope 