In order to keep your house as green as possible, keep watch for things around your home that might consume a lot of energy. Many household items can be modified in order to be more eco-friendly. Here is a list of common household items that might be causing you to be a little less green than you could be.
Old Windows
Replacing the seals on your windows and doors can mean a big change in temperature around your house. If your home is older, chances are your windows might need to be revamped. It could be as simple as fixing the seals with some caulking. If air is coming into the home, whether hot or cold, the temperature in the house won’t be consistent, making the air conditioning or furnace work harder than it needs to.
Cleaning Products
Most cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that release toxins in the air when you use them. Be mindful of the brands you purchase, since a lot of companies have started producing organic household cleaning products. Another way to green up your cleaning rituals is to use products you already have at home, like vinegar or baking soda. When buying products from the store, make sure the packaging is recyclable; this will eliminate any unnecessary garbage.
Appliances
Most appliances sold in stores today are energy efficient while older models are not. Having a refrigerator or stove from several years ago may mean it’s not energy efficient and it most likely uses up a lot of energy. Even though it’s not a small expense, replacing your old washer and dryer or any other appliances for new energy-efficient models will green up your home and help you save money in the future.
Water Habits
The easiest way to be a little more eco-friendly is to be mindful of what you use in your household. Wasting water is a large factor in energy consumption and is the biggest area of opportunity to crack down and use less.
Here are some tips to curb your water usage:
Turning off the water when brushing your teeth will cut down the amount of water your family uses. Also limit how long you spend in the shower.
When washing dishes by hand, run water only when you rinse or fill the sink up half way and let dishes soak.
When washing clothes, use a cold-water detergent to avoid using the energy it takes to run a hot water cycle. Hanging your laundry will also green up your routine since a dryer consumes a lot of energy.
Collecting rainwater in the backyard will help reduce the amount of water used, especially when you’re taking care of a beautiful lawn and garden.
Lights
Standard light bulbs consume a fair amount of electricity in your home. Changing all your regular light bulbs to energy-efficient ones will make your home more green. Also be sure to keep lights turned off when you’re not using them and let in natural light to help keep your energy consumption to a minimum.
Electricity
It might seem an unlikely culprit but appliances plugged into the wall when they’re not being used still consume energy. Phone chargers, blow dryers, clock radios, toasters, or anything else in your house plugged in will still consume energy even if they’re not turned on. It might not seem like a big thing but unplugging things when they’re not being used is a great way to cut down a small portion of your household’s energy consumption.