Making one’s living place more “green” is not just a popular trend these days. Instead, people have gotten genuinely serious about improving the shape of the world for future generations, and there’s no reason why you can’t do the same in your house. Read the tips in this article to help your house get green — for good.
If you still have incandescent light bulbs in your home, it’s time to get rid of them. As they burn out, don’t replace them with the same type. Instead, replace them with the CFL bulbs that last much longer — and burn much less energy. If you have fixtures in your home that are not compatible with the CFL bulbs, it is time to start replacing them. Incandescent bulbs burn too much energy to be sustainable over time.
Also, when you buy a spray can (paint, hair spray, and so on), check the label of the can to make sure that it says “No CFCs.” This refers to the chemicals that used to be found in spray cans, which ate the original holes in the ozone layer. The EPA has banned the use of these chemicals in spray cans, but that does not mean that they might not sneak into stores, so check the labeling.
Composting involves turning your home’s food waste and grass clippings into a powerful fertilizer that will improve the quality of your home’s soil. What you do is throw things like banana peels, apple cores, bread heels, and other food waste into a composting container — or out on your compost heap in the back yard. Along with grass clippings, these will gradually break down into compost, as the pile forms heat and pressure. When the compost is complete, you can add it to soil that you are using to plant, or scatter it with mulch in some of your beds in the yard. This is a pastime that you can follow as a family to improve your yard — and help the environment.
If you don’t have enough money to put in a full solar array on your house, you can still put in three or four and use them to create a dedicated circuit to one of your larger appliances, such as your water heater. The solar rays will contribute a small amount of electricity to your grid, and may take the burden of keeping your water hot away from your utility company. As you build up savings on your electric bill, you can sock more money away for the rest of your solar array.
A clothes line will allow you to dry your clothing without paying for the electricity or gas that it would take to run your dryer. It will also keep your clothes smelling fresher, while making your home greener.
If you start to go green at home, you will help the planet and your own budget. Try some of these ideas today and enjoy watching your home get greener every day!