Earth Day is coming up on April 22 and what better time to make your home and your life green? Going green will not only give the planet much-needed help, but it will also save you a significant amount on the costs of running your home. Here are some ideas:
Adjust Your Thermostat up or Down Depending on Exterior Temps
Some low-tech tools can help you save on your heating and cooling costs.
You can maintain indoor comfort and generate savings by turning your thermostat up in the summer a couple of degrees and running a fan to help keep cool.
You can do the same in the winter by putting on a sweater and turning the thermostat down a couple of degrees.
Plant Trees for Natural Cooling
You know that planting trees is good for the environment, but did you know that they can also help you keep cool inside your home?
Plant trees near your windows and let the shade fall from the leaves. On more temperate days, you may be able to leave the A/C off and rely solely on this natural cooling method.
Close the Chimney for the Season
It won’t be long until you’ve got the family gathered around the roaring fireplace to keep warm in the winter again, but for the time being, make sure that the flue is closed.
If you forget and leave it open, you are letting the air that you’ve paid to heat or cool escape outside.
Carbon Footprint Reduction
If you tackle a number of small tasks at home on a regular basis, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Inspect windows and doors to make sure that they are airtight.
If not, re-caulk seals. Use the spring and summer months to repair or replace any cracked windows. Get in the habit of opening the drapes during the day in the winter and closing them during the day in the summer.
You can warm or cool your home depending on the season. Take the time to change your HVAC filter monthly. Once a year get your ducts cleaned and inspected.
Saving with Solar Appliances
While you can save a great deal of money with EnergyStar certified appliances, you can cut costs even more if you switch over to solar appliances.
Solar fridges are highly effective and only use a portion of the energy to run that your traditional fridge does. They are more reliable because they won’t stop working in the event of a power outage.
Solar fridges are so effective that they are the appliance of choice for medical staff in developing countries where vaccines need to be stored and cooled, but they can’t rely on power.
Energy Saving HVAC Products and LED Bulbs
Extend the life and the saving power of your light bulbs by replacing your current ones with energy efficient LED bulbs. They run with minimal power and don’t need to be replaced nearly as often.
Make sure your HVAC system is high efficiency. For your air conditioner, check the SEER levels and measure the energy efficiency. To regulate temperature most effectively in your home, install a programmable thermostat that lets you control your comfort systems around your schedule