Going Green in your Home

We all know going green is good for the environment, and it's important to help conserve resources to help out planet Earth. You've heard of reduce, reuse, recycle, and you know you should use paper instead of plastic, and turn the water off while you're brushing your teeth. But what can your home be doing to be more green?

If you have the capability to install solar panels on your roof and live "off-the-grid," that's great, but it's probably not an option for everyone. However, there are still a few small changes you can make to ensure that your house is the most environmentally friendly it can be.


Quick Fixes

To start saving on your energy bill, consider switching your light bulbs to be more energy efficient. There are a wide variety of energy saving bulbs available, but you should concentrate on finding bulbs that are either LED, halogen incandescent, or compact fluorescent lamps. These bulbs save between 20 to 80 percent more energy and last longer, and because energy is created through the burning of fossil fuels, you can help reduce your carbon footprint. You'll also see a little extra cash back in your pocket from saving on your power bill, and installing dimmer switches in the main rooms of your home can also help reduce your consumption of electricity.
If you're unable to make the switch on your light bulbs, just focus on flipping the switch more often. Be sure lights are turned off in rooms you aren't in and unplug and shutdown any electronics or devices while they aren't being used.

For water reducing tricks, This Old House recommends starting in your bathroom with a quick test of your shower. Place a 1 gallon bucket under the running water and see how long it takes to fill. If it's less than 20 seconds, your shower head is releasing too much water. Replace it with one that sprays 1.5 gallons per minute, and you could save nearly 14,000 gallons of water per year, plus save a little on your utility bills.
Check for leaks coming from your toilet using a dyeing trick. Pour food coloring into the bowl, and see if any of the color has seeped after two hours. If it has, your tank's flapper is leaking, which can waste up to a gallon a minute, or more than 43,0000 gallons a month. You can buy a replacement flapper assembly at most hardware stores and take care of that pesky leak in no time.


Appliances

According to HomeAdvisor, appliances can be the biggest source of energy consumption in the home, particularly the refrigerator. If you're looking at replacing appliances, be sure to consider Energy Star appliances which are designed to meet the energy savings standards from the EPA and Department of Energy.
Don't worry though if you aren't able to replace your fridge just yet, there are still ways you can cut down on it's energy consumption and save a few dollars. Take the temperature of your refrigerator by placing an appliance thermostat in a glass of water in the center of your fridge and freezer and leave overnight. The fridge should be between 37 and 40 degrees F, with the freezer staying between 0 and 5 degrees. If your thermometer says it's any cooler, bump up the settings to save on energy.

Your dishwasher can also be an energy and water thief as well. Again, if you're making the appliance switch, Energy Star is the way to go;  if not, just be sure to run the dishwasher when it's completely full so you are wasting unnecessary water or energy.
Also, switching to a front loading washing machine from a top-loading can help save water, as top load machines use double the amount of water.

Major Renovations

If you're in the middle of renovations or looking to redecorate, there are some big ways you can go green in the design process.
Flooring is certainly not a green product in many homes. According to HomeAdvisor, carpet padding is made from petroleum, which is non renewable and requires lots of energy, and most old carpet ends up in landfills rather than being recycled. Eco-friendly flooring includes bamboo, cork, stone, tile, or linoleum, and if you have to go with carpet, look for the Green Label or Green Label Plus seal.
Outside, plant trees strategically on the south and west sides of the home to provide more shade, particularly on the HVAC unit. This can save up to $250 a year!

For more tips on how to go green in your home, check out Good Housekeeping's tricks here and find new ways to reduce your carbon footprint every day!