In a follow up to two previous posts, this is the last in our BelRed blog series talking about ways you can add a touch (or a lot) of green to your home. The trend of “going green” has swept the nation and many people are consciously coming up with ways they can reduce their negative impact on the environment.
Here are some more tips readers can use to make their homes greener:
· Save water whenever possible. Water is not only a valuable resource around the house, but also a huge use (and cause of use) of energy in the home. Saving water whenever possible is one of the most important ways you can make your home and lifestyle greener. Taking shorter showers, Using water-saver nozzles on showerheads and faucets, turning the water off while brushing your teeth—these habits, among many others, are great ways to limit your living impact around the home.
· Install eco-friendly landscape. While we spoke about living walls and rooftop gardens in the previous post, implementing eco-friendly landscaping practices around your home in general can have a great impact on energy savings as well. Going along with the theme of saving water just discussed, collecting rainwater whenever possible to use in the garden or on other plants is a great energy savings and eco-friendly practice. Strategically installing trees and shrubs can also help shade your home and act as external insulation, reducing energy needs inside the home.
· Change your laundry temperature. Making the simple switch from hot water to cold while washing laundry can help save a lot of energy over many loads. Cold water will clean laundry just as well, and removing the need to heat up that great deal of water can really cut down on your electric or gas bill depending on the type of washing machine you own. One flip of a knob can be a big energy saver when it comes to an appliance you use so much.
· Switch to grilling on the summer. For your meal prep and cooking needs, switching to more meals using the grill outside can help save a lot of energy inside. Constantly using an oven on a daily basis adds a great deal of heat not only to your kitchen, but to the entire home. This means your air conditioning unit has to kick into overdrive and work much harder to keep your house cool. Grilling will keep this heat outside while you prepare your delicious meals!
We hope you’ve enjoyed these “going green” tips for your home. There are many more things you can do to save energy and reduce your home’s overall environmental impact. We highly recommend doing what you can. The environment, and your wallet, will thank you!
