Keep Your Green By Going Green - A Room by Room Guide to Making Your Home Eco-Friendly
March 04, 2010 For the Home 0 comments
Taking your home from outdated to energy-efficient might seem daunting. But you can do it (and save money while you're at it). With this room by room checklist you can chose how green you go - just one room at a time or your whole house. (Skeptical? Keep track of your energy bills when you start to green your home and watch as you spend less and save more.)
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.
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