By Jack Bailey
Now is the best time for everyone to focus on lowering our energy consumption - and essentially energy costs - in our home. Energy savings in the home is essential to our environment and good for our family. Keep in mind that any energy saving that you can do will easily translate into savings for other day to day expenses. With the current state of our economy we are all looking for ways to save for now and for the future of our family. Cutting down on energy consumption is good for us and the environment.
You might be thinking that you practice energy conservation in your home. After all, nobody wastes energy on purpose, right? While that can be true, there are several small things that may have become part of your daily routine. You may not be aware that such things affect how much energy you consume each month.
For example, do you usually leave your appliances in standby mode? If yes, then you may want to change this routine to something a little more energy efficeint. Placing the appliances on standby mode still uses power. Try plugging your appliances into a power strip or a plug board and plug your appliances to this device instead. Whenever the appliances are not in use or whenever you're leaving the house, you can simply turn off or disconnect the plug board. This helps in reducing your energy costs, and at the same time, helps avoid the risk of fire.
Do you usually take long baths instead of short showers? Of course, taking a long, warm bath is a way to relax and soothe your tired muscles at the end of a stressful day. However, filling a bathtub increases your energy and water costs. Try taking short showers instead. This way you cut down on both your water and energy usage.
Do you usually wash a few dishes or a few pieces of clothing at a time? Full loads of both your dishwasher and clothes washer is a much more efficient use of energy and water. By washing full loads at a time, you not only save time but more efficiently use both energy and water. If you normally use the dishwasher to dry your dishes, try air-drying them instead. Most dishwashers have an energy saving mode that will allow dishes to air dry and thereby save energy. You can also apply the same energy saving mode to your laundry routine during the summer months. Instead of using the dryer, hang them outside to dry. Another real energy saver is the use of cold water for laundering your clothes. Most laundry detergents today are designed to be effective in cold water and they really do the job well.
These are only a few of the tips that you can use to cut down on your energy consumption at home. Remember that energy saving is a good practice for you and your family because it's good for the environment. Energy saving has the added bonus of saving your family money every day with little or no effort. Let's do it for our world and our future.
Jack Bailey is a freelance writer and green home energy enthusiast. It's Jack's goal to help home owners learn how to save money on their energy bills while they help make the planet a better place to live.
Please visit http://www.HomeEnergyAdvisory.com for tips on how to save big money on your monthly electricity bill; and learn more about how Green Home Energy can help solve the world energy problem.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Bailey
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Easy Ways to Go Green Around the House
By Julie Collins
You don't have to be a complete tree hugger to want to go green. But now that it's becoming increasingly clear that global warming is a very real problem, why wouldn't you want to reduce your impact on the environment?
If the threat of global warming doesn't spur you into action, perhaps this fact will: Most of the actions you can take to green your home are easy. And while they save energy and other valuable resources, they also save you a little or even a lot of green (read: money). I'm not expecting you to go off the grid, start raising all your own food, or anything that extreme. These are just easy changes that can be made around your house now to make a big difference.
So, without further ado, I present to you The Home Know-It-All's Top 15 Ways to Go Green Around Your Home (in order from easiest to accomplish to hardest-although I'd say they're all pretty darn easy).
1. Unplug household appliances and electronics (like the coffee maker, toaster, and cell phone charger) when they're not in use. Even if they're not on, appliances that are plugged in use energy. In fact, as much as 40 percent of all electricity is used to power home appliances that are turned off!
2. Get the most out of your appliances by only washing full loads of laundry and dishes. Minimize how often you open the refrigerator too. And keep the fridge full-an empty fridge has to work harder to stay cool than a full one.
3. Turn down the thermostat in cold weather and kick it up higher in warm weather. For each degree below 68 degrees Fahrenheit you set your thermostat during cold weather (or above 78 degrees Fahrenheit in warm weather), you'll save 3 to 5 percent more heating energy. A programmable thermostat makes this step easy. And using ceiling fans can keep you comfortable even when the thermostat is set higher or lower than you're used to.
4. Bring your own (reusable) grocery bags to the store. Paper and plastic grocery bags are no good for the environment-in fact, according to Ideal Bite, about 12 millions barrels of oil and 14 million trees go into producing plastic and paper bags each year. Plus, reusable bags hold more than flimsy plastic sacks and are easier to carry around.
5. Replace burned out lightbulbs with CFLs. These fluorescent bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescents and last up to 10 times longer. You can save $30 or more in electricity costs for each bulb over its lifetime!
6. Remember the three Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle!). Note that recycling comes at the end of the list. The most important step toward going green is to reduce your consumption-buy less, and you'll have less to recycle. In the home, that means buying materials, furnishings, and other items that are well-made, durable, and long-lasting (in other words, go for quality, not quantity). Then, of course, there's recycling. Recycle everything you possibly can-plastic, paper, bottles, cans, you name it. It's important to recycle electronics, batteries, toxic household items, and more as well. Learn where to recycle at Earth911.org. Oh, and buy recycled too-all sorts of household items from carpeting to dog beds to paper products are available with recycled content.
7. Use green cleaning supplies or homemade cleaning concoctions rather than chemical ones.
8. Paint with no- or low-VOC paints the next time you want to repaint rooms in your home.
9. Insulate your hot water heater to save energy. Placing an insulative jacket around your hot water heater costs as little as $10 to $20, and pipe insulation is less than $1 per six feet. While you're at it, turn the water heater down to 120 degrees for more money savings-and to ensure no one gets burned by water that's too hot.
10. Plug air leaks around your house. Air leaks waste tons of energy, but they're easy and inexpensive to take care of. Simply install weatherstripping and caulk around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and plumbing penetrations to stop drafts. Check the attic for leaks too.
11. Stop using chemicals on your lawn and in your garden. One way to reduce the need for chemicals (and lots of watering) is to try xeriscaping. And while you're in the garden, check out natural ways to get rid of garden pests too.
12. Save water by installing low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets.
13. Select Energy Star appliances when it's time to purchase new ones. Clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers, dehumidifiers, and more with the Energy Star label incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models-and they work well too!
14. Replace single-pane windows with double-pane ones to reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in the summer. An added bonus: they'll reduce noise pollution too.
15. Purchase sustainable materials for flooring, furnishings, and other home items. Flooring materials such as cork and bamboo are growing in popularity because they're attractive, durable, and better for the environment than other options. Wood that bears the Forest Stewardship Council has been harvested using environmentally friendly methods-look for sustainably harvested wood furnishings, decking, and more. And check out TreeHugger's guide to green furniture for more environmentally friendly furniture options.
So there you have it. Ways big and small to go green. This barely scratches the surface, of course. So if you want to learn more about these and other ways to lessen the impact you, your family, and your home have on the environment, check out some of my favorite online resources: Green Home Guide, Lime, The Green Guide, and TreeHugger.
Lexicon Consulting, Inc
The Home Know-It-All
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Collins
You don't have to be a complete tree hugger to want to go green. But now that it's becoming increasingly clear that global warming is a very real problem, why wouldn't you want to reduce your impact on the environment?
If the threat of global warming doesn't spur you into action, perhaps this fact will: Most of the actions you can take to green your home are easy. And while they save energy and other valuable resources, they also save you a little or even a lot of green (read: money). I'm not expecting you to go off the grid, start raising all your own food, or anything that extreme. These are just easy changes that can be made around your house now to make a big difference.
So, without further ado, I present to you The Home Know-It-All's Top 15 Ways to Go Green Around Your Home (in order from easiest to accomplish to hardest-although I'd say they're all pretty darn easy).
1. Unplug household appliances and electronics (like the coffee maker, toaster, and cell phone charger) when they're not in use. Even if they're not on, appliances that are plugged in use energy. In fact, as much as 40 percent of all electricity is used to power home appliances that are turned off!
2. Get the most out of your appliances by only washing full loads of laundry and dishes. Minimize how often you open the refrigerator too. And keep the fridge full-an empty fridge has to work harder to stay cool than a full one.
3. Turn down the thermostat in cold weather and kick it up higher in warm weather. For each degree below 68 degrees Fahrenheit you set your thermostat during cold weather (or above 78 degrees Fahrenheit in warm weather), you'll save 3 to 5 percent more heating energy. A programmable thermostat makes this step easy. And using ceiling fans can keep you comfortable even when the thermostat is set higher or lower than you're used to.
4. Bring your own (reusable) grocery bags to the store. Paper and plastic grocery bags are no good for the environment-in fact, according to Ideal Bite, about 12 millions barrels of oil and 14 million trees go into producing plastic and paper bags each year. Plus, reusable bags hold more than flimsy plastic sacks and are easier to carry around.
5. Replace burned out lightbulbs with CFLs. These fluorescent bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescents and last up to 10 times longer. You can save $30 or more in electricity costs for each bulb over its lifetime!
6. Remember the three Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle!). Note that recycling comes at the end of the list. The most important step toward going green is to reduce your consumption-buy less, and you'll have less to recycle. In the home, that means buying materials, furnishings, and other items that are well-made, durable, and long-lasting (in other words, go for quality, not quantity). Then, of course, there's recycling. Recycle everything you possibly can-plastic, paper, bottles, cans, you name it. It's important to recycle electronics, batteries, toxic household items, and more as well. Learn where to recycle at Earth911.org. Oh, and buy recycled too-all sorts of household items from carpeting to dog beds to paper products are available with recycled content.
7. Use green cleaning supplies or homemade cleaning concoctions rather than chemical ones.
8. Paint with no- or low-VOC paints the next time you want to repaint rooms in your home.
9. Insulate your hot water heater to save energy. Placing an insulative jacket around your hot water heater costs as little as $10 to $20, and pipe insulation is less than $1 per six feet. While you're at it, turn the water heater down to 120 degrees for more money savings-and to ensure no one gets burned by water that's too hot.
10. Plug air leaks around your house. Air leaks waste tons of energy, but they're easy and inexpensive to take care of. Simply install weatherstripping and caulk around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and plumbing penetrations to stop drafts. Check the attic for leaks too.
11. Stop using chemicals on your lawn and in your garden. One way to reduce the need for chemicals (and lots of watering) is to try xeriscaping. And while you're in the garden, check out natural ways to get rid of garden pests too.
12. Save water by installing low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets.
13. Select Energy Star appliances when it's time to purchase new ones. Clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers, dehumidifiers, and more with the Energy Star label incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models-and they work well too!
14. Replace single-pane windows with double-pane ones to reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in the summer. An added bonus: they'll reduce noise pollution too.
15. Purchase sustainable materials for flooring, furnishings, and other home items. Flooring materials such as cork and bamboo are growing in popularity because they're attractive, durable, and better for the environment than other options. Wood that bears the Forest Stewardship Council has been harvested using environmentally friendly methods-look for sustainably harvested wood furnishings, decking, and more. And check out TreeHugger's guide to green furniture for more environmentally friendly furniture options.
So there you have it. Ways big and small to go green. This barely scratches the surface, of course. So if you want to learn more about these and other ways to lessen the impact you, your family, and your home have on the environment, check out some of my favorite online resources: Green Home Guide, Lime, The Green Guide, and TreeHugger.
Lexicon Consulting, Inc
The Home Know-It-All
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Collins
Reduce Energy Usage - 5 Tips to Save Energy Around the House
By Rhonda Percell
In today's economy, many people are looking to reduce their energy usage and save money. You can reduce your electricity bill by following these five simple tips:
1. Use CFL Bulbs - Replace all incandescent bulbs in your house to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs require less electricity and will reduce your energy usage in your home.
2. Wash Only Full Loads of Clothes - Reduce the number of loads of laundry you do in your home a week by only washing clothes when you have a full load. Even though many newer washers require less water they still require the same amount of electricity per load whether it is a small or large load of cloths.
3. Turn off Household Items - You will be amazed at how you can reduce your energy usage each month by remembering to turn off the lights when you leave a room, turn off the TV when no one is watching it, and especially turning off your computer monitor when it is not in use. These small changes will make a big difference in your energy bill each month.
4. Set Your Thermostat Right - In the summer set your air conditioner a few degrees warmer and in the winter set your furnace a few degrees cooler to reduce energy usage.
5. Unplug What You Don't Use - If you have gadgets in your home that you do not use but they have lights or a clock, unplug these items to reduce the amount of electricity you use. These small gadgets can add up to using a lot of energy over the course of a year.
So, as you can see, using these five simple tips can really help reduce your energy usage month in and month out.
And if you would like more information about reducing your energy bill or even eliminating your power bill visit our website at http://www.jrkfamilyoutdoors.com/greenenergy Sign up for our free newsletter and receive helpful tips and special reports about saving money on your energy costs.
By: Rhonda Percell - Wife, Mother of 3, and Owner of JRK Family Outdoors
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Percell
In today's economy, many people are looking to reduce their energy usage and save money. You can reduce your electricity bill by following these five simple tips:
1. Use CFL Bulbs - Replace all incandescent bulbs in your house to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs require less electricity and will reduce your energy usage in your home.
2. Wash Only Full Loads of Clothes - Reduce the number of loads of laundry you do in your home a week by only washing clothes when you have a full load. Even though many newer washers require less water they still require the same amount of electricity per load whether it is a small or large load of cloths.
3. Turn off Household Items - You will be amazed at how you can reduce your energy usage each month by remembering to turn off the lights when you leave a room, turn off the TV when no one is watching it, and especially turning off your computer monitor when it is not in use. These small changes will make a big difference in your energy bill each month.
4. Set Your Thermostat Right - In the summer set your air conditioner a few degrees warmer and in the winter set your furnace a few degrees cooler to reduce energy usage.
5. Unplug What You Don't Use - If you have gadgets in your home that you do not use but they have lights or a clock, unplug these items to reduce the amount of electricity you use. These small gadgets can add up to using a lot of energy over the course of a year.
So, as you can see, using these five simple tips can really help reduce your energy usage month in and month out.
And if you would like more information about reducing your energy bill or even eliminating your power bill visit our website at http://www.jrkfamilyoutdoors.com/greenenergy Sign up for our free newsletter and receive helpful tips and special reports about saving money on your energy costs.
By: Rhonda Percell - Wife, Mother of 3, and Owner of JRK Family Outdoors
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Percell
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)