7 Cheap and Easy Ways To Green Your Home!

My husband and I bought a home on June 15, 2011, that initially looked perfect for us. We liked the location, there was space for a home office and we had a bathroom on both the first and second floors. But after we moved in and got a little settled, we discovered some not so pleasant facts. Like the dual-furnace heating system that isn’t the least bit energy efficient, the doors without screens and the enormous window in the dining room that had neither curtains nor blinds to keep out the sun.

I knew if we kept things as they were, our utility bills would skyrocket in no time. So I set out to correct these problems and also help improve the overall efficiency of my dwelling. And along the way I learned some surprising tips that can be easily incorporated into many other households as well!

#1. Invest in Blinds.

First and foremost, I purchased inexpensive blinds for all of the windows in our house. Since we moved in during the summer, this helped block some of the sun’s rays so I could cool our rooms without running the air conditioner. The blinds I purchased were less than $10 each, and they afford privacy without disrupting the home’s overall feel.

#2. Get Screens for Your Doors and Windows.

I also purchased two screen doors, one for the back entryway and another for the front. These were around $40 each, but the benefit of letting in cool air during balmy days is incalculable.

#3. Dress For the Weather.

And during this time I learned that approximately half of a home’s energy consumption is in the form of heating and cooling. Each indoor degree below 68 degrees during colder weather saves 3 to 5 percent more heating energy. Keeping the thermostat at 78 degrees in warmer weather equates to energy and money savings.A programmable thermostat can make these changes automatically, so I replaced our two ancient turn-dial thermostats with digital ones for about $20 each.

#4. When Your Done Using It, Turn Off the Faucet!

After making these changes to the house, I began looking at my individual habits. I’ve long since heard that running the faucet while brushing my teeth wastes an extraordinary amount of water, so I refrain from that. But I always leave the water run while washing and rinsing dishes, which also leads to extravagant waste. Water conservationists suggest you fill one side of the sink with soap and water to wash dishes and fill the other with just water for rinsing. To further promote conservation efforts, you can wash fruits and vegetables in a pan of water rather than that from the tap, and use the remainder to water houseplants.

#5. Get Some House Plants!

Speaking of plants, these common household decorations can serve as energy-efficient air purifiers as well. Studies show that plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen as part of the photosynthetic process. Many common species also absorb benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.  The liberal use of common houseplants can thus improve air quality without adding to utility bills. Those to look for include English ivy, peace lily, Chinese evergreen and spider plant. Other common species are bamboo or reed palm, weeping fig and elephant ear philodendron.

#6.Turn Off Those Lights!

Now that I’ve become more energy conscious as a whole, I find myself changing my habits in other areas as well. During the day, for instance, I don’t turn on indoor lights unless absolutely necessary. At night I keep the lights on only in the room(s) we’re in, and all of our light bulbs have been changed to those that are energy efficient.

#7. Use Your "Low Heat" Dryer Setting.

I also dry all clothes in the dryer on low heat, which does the job in the same amount of time as high heat without using as much energy. And items not in-use, like the toaster and my curling iron, remain unplugged until they are needed.

These are little steps, I know, but I’m doing what I can to minimize my footprint on the planet. My husband has caught on as well, and now we’re looking at ways to reduce garbage in order to help already-full landfills. This may take a little more time, but it’s all a work-in-progress. Moreover, we’re minimizing our living expenses while looking out for the planet’s health.

Photo Credit: Stever-H, Steve took it, Indiana Stan, VictoriA, Images by John 'K', coco+kelly, jamelah, darryhl

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