Keep Your Green By Going Green - A Room by Room Guide to Making Your Home Eco-Friendly
Refrigerator Guide
APR
3
2009
Green Your Bathroom:
You use a lot of energy in your bathroom. Your toilet, bathroom sink and shower can all end up breaking your wallet in water costs. Lighting is another way you can pinch pennies by going green. For such a small room, there are actually a lot of ways you can save money by making some minor adjustments. Check out these tips for getting an environmentally friendly bathroom - and saving a buck or two while you're at it.
- Consider low-flow showerheads. Conserving water is great for the environment but also cuts down on water costs.
- Low-flush toilets are another way to save on water in your bathroom. Low-flush toilets are the modern standard but if you haven't updated your bathroom since the 1990s, you might still be using an old, less efficient model. Low-flush toilets come in a range of styles and prices - you could spend anywhere between $150.00 to $600.00.
- Another money saving option is a dual-flush toilet. Dual-flush toilets allow you to chose the amount of water you flush down - a full flush or half flush - so you don't waste water.
- Install halogen light bulbs in your bathroom light fixtures. Halogen bulbs last longer than incandescent light bulbs and are also much brighter. One bulb ensures great light in your bathroom for years. Who doesn't want that?
Green Your Kitchen:
Once you've conquered your bathroom, head on to the kitchen. The home of your most important appliances and the constant hustle and bustle of a busy family, the kitchen is another room that sucks up energy - but it doesn't have to. These 5 tips can cut energy costs and turn your ordinary kitchen into a fresh, eco-friendly kitchen.
- Check for leaky faucets. Got a leak? Seal it up! Leaking water can add up in costs.
- Load your dishwasher completely full before you hit start. If you're shopping for a new dishwasher, consider a rinse and hold option. As your dishes stack up, the rinse cycle will keep food odors at bay while conserving your overall water use.
- Think twice about that fancy new refrigerator. "Through the door" features on refrigerators waste a lot of energy. Instead, consider opting for a more traditional top freezer, bottom freezer or side by side refrigerator. You'll save money in more ways than one - "through the door" features on refrigerators are more expensive, so buy opting for a simpler fridge, you'll save money on your refrigerator purchase and your refrigerator use.
- Use convection ovens. Conventional ovens use more energy to cook food whereas convection ovens rely on fans to spread heat. (Added bonus: your food will cook faster too)
- Make sure your kitchen windows are easy to open. If you're cooking up a storm, just crack a window open instead of cranking the air conditioning.
Green Your Living Areas:
Your living areas are where you play, entertain, and well, live - so why not make them environmentally friendly? A few changes can put cash back in your pocket and maybe save the planet, too. Think about these 4 suggestions for green living areas:
- Be curtain conscious! Open curtains to let heat in when the sun is shining into your living areas and close the blinds or shades when the sun shifts. This will allow heat in and keep it there, saving your money on your heating bill.
- Install ceiling fans and then turn down the A/C. Ceiling fans are really effective at circulating air in the house, so you won't need to spend as much keeping cool.
- Use power strips for your electronics. Plug electronics like TVs and computers into power strips and turn off the power source when your laptop, desktop, or TV is not in use. Electrics soak up a lot of energy - so you'll really save some green by turning off your appliances when you're not using them.
- Speaking of turning off unused appliances, be sure to flip off your lights when you leave your living room, study or other living rooms in your house. By turning off lights, you'll not only save on electricity, but you'll keep your home cooler.
Green Your Attic/Roof:
Your attic and roof might go unnoticed. How often to venture up there, anyway? Well, if you're serious about saving cash and going green, you'll start thinking twice about your attic and roof. Check out these 3 tips for cutting energy costs:
- Inspect your roof's insulation. Almost a quarter of your home's heat can escape through the roof so be sure your insulation is in shape. Updating insulation can be a little pricey, but will save you money in the long run on your heating bill.
- If you're thinking about repairing your roof, consider the material before you install. Shopping for light colored roofs will reduce the heat in your attic and will cut down on air conditioner use in the summertime.
- If you have the cash to spend on remodeling your home, think about investing in solar paneling. Worried about the installation cost? Think about a tax rebate for energy efficient home improvements.
Green Your Basement:
Green might not seem like a color you want attached to your basement, but thinking about the environment and your basement pays off. Try making these changes:
- Turn down your water heater to 120 degrees. Washing your clothes in cold water will cut down energy bill costs.
- Clean your furnace. Dirty, clogged furnaces don't run as well. Hire a professional to come and clean your furnace before winter hits to make sure you're getting the most for your money.
Green Your Whole Home:
There are a lot of simple changes that can make an effect on your whole home's energy use. Check out these tips:
- Consider heat blocking windows. They will keep your home cool in the summer months and save you money!
- This is really simple but use halogen or LED light bulbs instead of regular incandescent light bulbs.You can find them at any major convenience store so there is no excuse.
- Shop Energy Star. Energy Star appliances are guaranteed to be energy efficient which means they will save you money. Energy Star appliances cut your energy use by 30 per cent! That's something worth looking into. These three appliances are the most important ones to think about when shopping Energy Star.
- Energy Star Refrigerator: energy star refrigerators come in all shapes and styles. Bottom freezer, top freezer, and side by side refrigerators can all be purchased with the Energy Star label so you don't have to sacrifice style while going green. Keep in mind that side by side refrigerators are more expensive than top freezer or bottom freezer refrigerators.
- Energy Star Dishwasher: Energy Star dishwashers come in a variety of styles and prices. From $500 to $1300, you can find an Energy Star dishwasher to match any home and budget.
- Energy Star Washer: Like refrigerators, Energy Star washers come in all styles. However, keep in mind that top load washers are harder to find with the Energy Star label.
- Seal up leaks. Heat can escape from your home in a number of place, but one easy place to find air leaks is outlets. If you detect a draft, seal up the leak quickly!
