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Making Your Home Greener |
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 With all of the new developments in eco-friendly products, it is getting easier and easier to turn your home into an environmentally conscious dwelling. Whether you just want to save a little bit on your electric bill, or go all the way and install solar panels, there are many ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint.
Replace your light bulbs.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) and LED bulbs are the most energy efficient forms of light. They use less electricity, give off less heat and last much longer than traditional bulbs.
Compact fluorescent bulbs last 8 to 15 times longer than traditional light bulbs and use between one-third and one-fourth the amount of energy.
LED bulbs last 25 to 35 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use only one-fifth of the amount of energy.
Incandescent bulbs have been phased out over the last few years to make room for these energy efficient options and are much harder to find. If you do still have these bulbs somewhere, it is better for your home to just toss them and buy one of these green options.
Install a programmable thermostat.
Chances are in the summer you don't want to come home to a boiling house and in the winter you don't want to come home to a freezing house. With a regular thermostat, this means that the air or heat has to be all day. With a programmable thermostat, you can set it to turn on right before you come home and off right after you leave It is also great overnight. In winter, set it to lower the temperature while you're sleeping and raise the temperature before you get up. In summer you'll probably still need the AC while you're sleeping, but set it to a higher temperature so it isn't on all night. You'll waste so much less energy and it'll save you tons on your electric bill.
Use power strips and energy efficient appliances.
Plug your electronics and appliances into a power strip instead of directly into the wall. The power strip has it's own power that will allow you to easily turn off multiple items you aren't using without unplugging all of them individually. Even if your TV is off, it is still using energy as long as it's plugged into the wall. Newer appliances are designed to use less energy in order to work. If you're ready to upgrade your appliances, choose energy efficient models, but still unplug them when not in use.
Reduce water use.
Install low flow faucets and shower heads or install aerators on the faucets you already have. The water flow is still substantial and won't feel like low pressure. Wash your clothes in cold water instead of warm and outside your home, collect rainwater to water your grass and plants. You can install a barrel to the end of your gutter so the water is automatically collected.
Make your own cleaning supplies.
Store bought cleaning supplies have toxic ingredients that are not necessary to kill germs and sanitize your home. It may smell clean, but breathing in the harsh fumes of chemicals like bleach and ammonia are not only hazardous to your health, but also the environment. You can make your own healthier versions that are just as effective for a fraction of the price. There is a different formula for vinegar, baking soil and mineral oils for just about every cleaning task you can imagine.
 Considering solar energy?
In recent years solar panels have become more affordable and available for residential use, but they are still an expensive investment for the average person. The solar systems range from $20,000-$40,000 depending on the size of the system and the location of your residence. But the perks include a 40 to 70 percent savings on your electric bill and in some cases a 10 percent or greater return on your investment for selling the extra energy you generate back to your hydro company.
If going completely solar is beyond your means, there are smaller solar gadgets you can use to off set the costs of electricity. There are many easy to install outdoor lighting options with solar panels built in. They will soak up the sun during the day and then turn on automatically at night to illuminate your property. You can also install a solar powered attic fan or hot water heater to help reduce costs.
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Author : Amy Meerovich
on June 7, 2016
TopMoving.ca - Moving Expert
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