You may think that going green is a buzz phrase people use to feel like they’re doing more for the environment than they really are. But the truth is, going green is now a positive, conscious lifestyle that people adopt to improve not only the environment, but their own lives. Think about that: having a significant impact on the world and on your wallet.
With the current economic landscape, every penny counts and, with the high price imposed upon us for natural resources, those pennies add up fast. So I felt it important to provide some tips that you, the homeowner, can apply right now, without much effort. The energy saving professionals at Hd Home Automation helped compile the following list of sustainable steps you can make into money saving habits.
Save on Energy
• Shut off the lights in your house when not in use. Simple, yes, but more times than not you?e expending electricity and in turn spending money?aying for lights that aren? helping anyone. Use natural daylight whenever possible.
• Use CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) instead of the regular incandescent light bulbs. Yes, they?l cost a little more up front, but the 70% savings on electricity makes the difference, and they last substantially longer.
• Make proper use of your thermostat by setting the temperature a few degrees lower than you do normally. Wrap up in a blanket or jump into a comfortable sweater during the winter to save money. In turn, set the thermostat higher during summer months and change your mode of dress to fit the weather.
• Clotheslines use the natural wind to dry clothes instead of your dryer. You not only save money this way?here? no limit to how much you can dry at once.
• Unplug devices when they?e not in use. You might not realize this, but even when turned off, devices suck up electricity. This one act can save you 5% on your monthly energy bill.
• Purchase a power strip that turns off when devices are not in use or have been fully charged. Try the Smart Strip LCG5 as an example.
• Install outdoor motion sensors lights. It? always nice to be able to see when you need it, especially when you?e coming home late, but there? no sense in leaving lights on all the time. Motion sensors give you the best of both worlds?ight and savings.
• Install solar-powered outdoor lights. Why not take advantage of Mother Nature altogether? Advancements in technology have produced a greater variety at a lower cost, making solar lights a viable and cost-efficient option.
Save on Gas
• Your water heater is a money hog. Yes, we all love those long, hot showers, but water heaters also happen to be one of the big cash guzzlers. Try lowering your tanks temperature from 140 to 120 degrees. This alone will shrink your water heating costs by up to 10%?nd who needs a scalding 140 degree shower anyway?
• Use an electric kettle to boil water instead of your gas stove. The newer flash-pots give you hot water faster and cheaper than kicking on that huge stove.
• Make sure to winter-proof your home. This is a huge problem that sucks at our finances when it only takes a little prevention. Check your windows and doors to make sure they are properly sealed. A simple $3 calking job can save you money and help you stay more comfortable.
• Turn the furnace down when you leave the house. If there? no one home, there? no need to have the house at 72 degrees. If you?e away at work most of the day, set the thermostat to kick back on right before you get home.
• Consider portable oil heaters instead of heating the whole house. These small, radiator-like devices use less energy in the form of electricity and produce a good amount of heat to warm a large room.
Save on Water
• Use your dishwasher. More times than not, dishwashers are more efficient than humans, especially when we tend to leave the water running as we rinse and wipe down afterwards.
• If you wash by hand, use a soap tub or fill one side of the sink with hot water. Don? leave the water running constantly.
• Don? leave water running, whenever you can help it. This includes brushing your teeth, washing dishes, or heating up water for a shower.
• Limit shower water. When you take a shower, get your body and hair wet, and then shut it off until you rinse. Repeat that for when you condition your hair.