Green-Proof Your Home

Although the coronavirus is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, now is not the time to forget about climate change--especially since we're seeing improvements with our carbon footprint due to the limited number of vehicles on the road. We can remain vigilant in our sustainability efforts and still practice environmentally conscious behaviors.

If you’re working from home, now is a good time to “green-proof” it. Not only will this contribute to a healthier environment, it will also put money back into your pocket. The following are some easy guidelines to help you make your home more environmentally friendly.

1). Unplug your electronics when not using. Many appliances consume energy even when we are not using them. So, unplug that coffee pot as soon as you’re finished drinking your morning cup o’joe.

2). Green clean your clothes simply by using cold water for each load and drying on a rack. If you must use a dryer, consider looking at an Energy Star certified dryer that has sensor drying and options for low heat settings.

3). Clean the coils on your refrigerator. Many people do not even think of doing this, and it is especially important if you have dogs that shed. Dirty coils force a fridge to work harder, resulting in higher energy costs.

4). Invest in a low flow shower head to cut down on water consumption. Showers are typically the third largest water use after toilets and the average household could save more than 2,300 gallons per year by installing a low flow shower head.

5). One of the easiest and quickest ways to save energy and money is to caulk, seal and weather-strip all drafts coming into your home. When the seals to your windows/doors wear down over time, this makes your HVAC system run harder to heat and cool your home.

6). Switch to LED lighting in your home. A 10-watt LED bulb does the same work as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. LEDs emit very little heat. In comparison, incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat and compact fluorescent lamps release about 80% of their energy as heat.

7). Plant trees around your home strategically to save on energy--especially around your AC unit for shade. This will help keep money in your pocket!

8). Reduce/Reuse/Recycle. Did you know that the average American throws away 4.4 pounds of trash in a single day? Buy items with less packaging and make every effort to not purchase single use plastics. Have a garage sale. (Your trash is someone else’s treasure!) Use less and recycle more to save our planet. Recycling is one of the easiest ways you can make your home green. The key is to remember to recycle while you are throwing things away. A good tip is to place recycling stations in a couple areas of your home for ease.

Sustainability can be easy and inexpensive. Granted, at times it does require a bigger investment, but in the end, you will have more money in your pocket. Know that ANY effort you make helps keep our planet healthy.