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Green Home Makeovers that are Easy and Affordable

November 18th, 2011 — Going Green Tips, Green Construction, Home

Are you looking to save the environment, but you cannot afford costly options like solar panels? Are you looking for a way to cut down on your energy costs, but are not all together sure about installing wind turbines in your back yard? Don't worry! There are plenty of things that you can do to go green that are easy and affordable, allowing you to make big changes while staying within your budget.

Here are some basic green living tips that will allow you to stay within your budget while conducting eco friendly home and yard makeovers for greener living.

Audit -

Start by performing a home energy audit, checking to see first if your local utilities do this kind of service or finding another service that may. The auditor needs to make a complete inventory of all of the appliances in your home that use electricity or water. Performing an energy audit is an excellent way to find out how efficient or how inefficient your appliances are, and if there are any ways that you can make your heating or cooling systems more efficient.

Change your Lighting -

You should aim to replace any incandescent light bulbs in your home with more efficient CFL or Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, as these will last longer and will utilize less power in the process.

Water -

Some modern shower systems spew out an incredibly wasteful amount of water, at approximately 80 gallons of water per minute. By using a water-saving shower head, you can reduce this to 1.75 gallons per minute instead, saving thousands of gallons a year!

Toilet -

Composting toilets are capable of turning human waste into natural fertilizer, and they are an excellent way to conserve water use. However, this is a pretty large step for many people. There is no shortage of other ideas to consider when it comes to going green in the bathroom. Consider using chlorine free, recycled toilet paper, organic cotton bath towels and other linens, and even a shower curtain that is free of PVC.

Carpeting -

Your home carpet is a magnet for many things, like toxins, animal dander, fungi, dust, dirt and bugs. Not only is your carpet a reservoir of dirt and other nastiness, but it was probably also made from a petrochemical synthetic material like nylon for example. Instead, choose area rugs that are made from natural fibers, and choose rugs that are stitched rather than glued.

Natural Landscaping -

Rather than drowning your lawn in dangerous chemicals and pesticides, you can make your own weed and bug repellent using water and hot peppers. Take out the grass, which soaks up water like a sponge, and replace your lawn with rocks, wild flowers, gravel and other native plants; these are all elements that do not require fertilizer or lawn, which saves you on chemicals and on water.

There are plenty of other things that you can do to significantly reduce your carbon footprint, saving on money in your utility bills at the same time.

Bonus Tip: Another handy post-makeover tip is to hire a junk removal service. Companies like this will haul away all your leftover debris and rubble from any project, from basement finishing to new flooring in the kitchen.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-23 05:05:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Ten Tips Toward a More Eco Friendly Home

November 14th, 2011 — Eco-Friendly, Going Green Tips, Home

Tip 1 -

Turn the lights off any time that they are not needed, even if you are just moving from room to room in the course of your day. According to Energy Star, as much as 20 percent of a home's overall energy use comes from its lighting. Using compact fluorescent light bulbs requires as much as 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, but the best way to save energy is to only use your lighting fixtures when you absolutely have to.

Tip 2 -

Wash your clothing in cold water, because washing machines use as much as 90 percent of their energy just heating the water, and higher temperatures mean greater costs to both you and the environment. You can even make your clothes last longer by washing them in cold water, so there is no real reason not to.

Tip 3 -

If you have a gas or electric clothes dryer, you can realize great savings simply by keeping the lint trap cleaned. Tests have shown that this can amount to a savings of $34 per year per dryer, which really adds up.

Tip 4 -

Keep the dryer shut off all together by opting for a clothes tree or clothes line instead. These only tend to cost a few dollars and can save you significant amounts of money when it comes to energy costs throughout the year.

Tip 5 -

Find out if your local utility companies are using green energy. Some local utilities are now using low impact, hydro-electric energy options through solar farms and windmills, so ask if using these power sources will allow for you to realize a savings on your monthly utility bills.

Tip 6 -

If your refrigerator is next to a dishwasher, a vent or a stove, your fridge will have to work harder to keep cool, so by isolating your fridge in another area away from these heat sources, you may be able to reap the benefits through a lower cost energy bill.

Tip 7 -

Forgo the standard, chemical cleaning products and opt instead for a combination between plain water and white vinegar, which is the ultimate cleaning product when it comes to green living. Many companies are now beginning to market environmentally friendly cleaning products as well, should you need something a little more powerful than what vinegar can provide.

Tip 8 -

Choose a better type of grass, like a hardy perennial. There are drought tolerant types of grass that require far less watering and no chemical care, allowing you to have a healthy and beautiful lawn without requiring a lot of water. Don't bother shooing away beneficial critters like insects, birds, toads and frogs as they can actually help your lawn maintain its best.

Tip 9 -

Buy biodegradable pottery for your garden, choosing bamboo, coconut, rice or wheat fibers instead of plastic pottery so that your pottery will biodegrade in the earth instead of ending up in a landfill.

Tip 10 -

Shop green and leave the plastic behind whenever possible. Draperies, shades and other window treatments are available in natural fibers. Furniture can be upholstered using silk, latex, wool and natural robber, or even foam that is made from soybeans. By purchasing natural materials like this, we are eliminating the need for petroleum based products in our home and saving the environment at the same time.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-26 05:26:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter