You don't have to be a weather expert to know that climate change is upon us. This monthly column is designed to inform you about easy techniques and solutions to ordinary problems that will not only solve your home improvement problems, it will help save the environment too! This month, we are featuring 8 Tips for a Green Home
1.) Turn down the thermostat. Lowering it by just one degree can reduce heating costs by 4%.
2.) Use ceiling fans in the summer and winter. You can reverse the direction of the blades simply by flipping a switch, so that in the winter the warm air will be forced down, in turn keeping the room a higher temperature.
3.) If you are going to purchase new appliances in the near future, be sure they are certified by Energy Star. They will have a blue star logo displayed on them. Compared to a model manufactured in 1990, an Energy Star refrigerator would save enough electricity to light a home for almost 5 months!
4.) Repair leaky faucets and other plumbing. One drop per second can waste as much as 10 gallons of water per week!
5.) Install low-flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets. Low-flow faucets reduce water comsumption and water heating costs by 50%. If everyone in America did this, we would use 1.3 trillion less gallons of water and save $11.3 million per day!!!
6.) If you are planning to purchase carpeting or other floor furnishings, choose ones that are made from natural fibers such as wool or cotton, and be sure they are untreated and free of toxins such as cleaners or pestisides. If you are planning to go the hardwood route, buy bamboo. It is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, and it requires no replanting, and is very durable (not to mention beautiful!).
7.) If you are making furnature or cabinatry, select solid woods, instead of compressed or composite woods. The chemicals they are made with (namely formaldehyde) that can be hazerdous to your health.
8.) Recycle, recycle, recycle! By purchasing everyday items that can be recycled, we save the output of trash into our landfills by tremendous amounts. Many of our local communities have a recycling program, so take advantage of it. Some items you can even get money for (think aluminum beverage cans for instance)! Establish a compost pile in your backyard for your kitchen waste (produce, eggshells, ect), and use it on flower beds or gardens.
