Saving the planet can seem like a larger-than-life, almost impossible goal. It seems like something so insurmountable that most of us dismiss the idea as the type of change they could never truly effect on their own. The reality is, however, there are small things we can all do at home that, when taken together, will have a big impact on Mother Earth as a whole.
Make the right lighting choices
Lighting, or the right choice of lighting, is one of the easiest and most impactful ways of greening your home. LED bulbs are a more environmentally responsible choice. They are more energy efficient and they last much longer than other types of bulbs. The average LED light can last upwards of more than 20 years. These lights can be more expensive than other types, so if you are considering making the change, don’t resolve to change every bulb in your home all at once. Instead, start with the rooms you use the most, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. From there, you can gradually replace all of the lights throughout your home until eventually you are using only LED lights.
Solar lighting is also an environmentally responsible, energy-efficient option. If you don’t want to install solar panels on your roof to power your whole home, you can take a smaller – yet also effective – step in the direction of greening your home and helping the planet. Outdoor solar lights are a great choice. They come in all styles and types, and can illuminate your outdoor space beautifully without the use of electricity.
Seal out any leaks
Air leaks in the home is another common way that energy is wasted. When your windows and doors aren’t insulated properly, for example, your HVAC system works harder to keep your home at your desired temperature, using more energy (not to mention costing you more money!).
Check all your windows and doors for air leakage. Do you notice that your curtains seem to blow slightly, or that condensation is forming on your windows? Your windows are probably not sealed properly. If you notice light coming in from the outdoors around your doors or that the doors feel cold to the touch from the inside? There’s a good chance your doors aren’t sealed properly. Remember: If light can get in, air is getting out!
Monitor your thermostat
Your thermostat can’t work optimally to keep your home at a constant temperature if your home isn’t sealed properly. On the flipside of that, you can use your thermostat to help reduce the amount of energy you use in your home. To do this, program your thermostat to a cooler temperature when you are at work, for example, or at night, when you don’t need to heat your home as much. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, it may be time to invest in one. You can set the time for your furnace or air conditioner to go back up or down to your preferred temperature, such as shortly before you are due home from work, or before you typically get up in the morning.
Be mindful of your appliances
Even if they still work well, older appliances almost always use more energy than newer, energy-rated appliances do. If you’re finding that you are using a lot of electricity, your appliances may be to blame more efficient dishwasher will save water as compared to washing by name, and an Energy Star-rated washing machine will use much less water per load than an older model will.
Mind your water usage
Mitigating your family’s water usage is one of the best ways you can do your part for the planet. Installing a low-flow shower head will reduce the amount of water used per shower dramatically, sometimes by as much as half. The same can be said for low-flow toilets, which use much less water to flush than traditional toilets.
These are just a few of the things we can do to help make our homes greener. Solar lights, monitoring water consumption, and ensuring we are heating and cooling our homes effectively may seem like small things, but they are actually very impactful.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
