New age living requires certain sensitivity to nature. And loving the environment isn’t just for tree huggers any more. It’s become a way of life for many Canadian families who are looking out for their surroundings. One of the more prominent emerging environment conscious groups are homeowners, who are not only making the switch for the love of mother Earth, but also to pinch down on their own bills. After all… saving the Earth can also mean savings for you! Here’s a quick countdown of 10 easy things you can do to be kind to the planet, as well as to your pocket.
1. Light it Up! The simplest and most effective way to reduce energy consumption is to switch those heavy duty halogens and light bulbs to energy savers. You don’t even have to compromise on the mood of the room, because nowadays you’ll find these lights in a number of colors, ranging from soft white, to daylight!
2. Save Water. It’s as simple as when you heard it as a child. Using less water isn’t just easy, it’s also a need nowadays. Put an aerator on all household faucets and cut your annual water consumption by 50%. Or install a low-flow toilet. They use only 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to 3.5 gallons per flush for toilet models before 1994. If you have an older model, adjust your float valve to admit less water into the toilet's tank.
3. Control the Temperature. You may not be able to have a say on what the weather is like, but you can certainly manage the heating and cooling inside your home. Use tips and tricks like ceiling fans and space heaters to help your through the harsh weather extremes. You should also make sure you have your furnace serviced and your air ducts clean!
4. Upgrade Appliances. It might seem expensive to buy new appliances, but over time, these newer ‘greener’ models are high on energy savings and low on the budget. The biggest culprit in your home is the refrigerator. Try and replace that with an energy effecient product, models that carry the "Energy Star" logo. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard models. According to the Energy Star site, if just one in 10 homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.
5. Choose Tree Free Paper. Almost all paper products are now made 100% tree free through recycled products. From greeting cards to toilet paper, you can save the spending on paper products, by buying recycled.
6. Clean Green! Skip the fancy names and bottles and settle for the simple organic cleaning methods. Use vinegar and baking soda for most jobs. You can look up dozens of natural cleaning methods on line. Effective on the job, and safe for your little ones too!
7. Replace Plastics. Over using plastics is secretly killing our environment. There’s a lot you can do to ensure your home isn’t the source of extra plastic disposal. Switch containers to glass, use refillable water bottles, carry groceries home in a reusable bag. These are a few easy ways to get started on overcoming your plastic addiction.
8. Grow a Green Garden. Use compost instead of synthetic fertilizers and steer clear from artificial pesticides. By planting perennials and specifically native plants, you’ll notice your garden will be more cooperative, and also, environmentally friendly!
9. Choose the Right Paint for the Job. If you’re thinking of changing your wall colors, or just refreshing the current look with a fresh coat, you should consider using a zero or low VOC paint. Better for the Earth, and better for your health.
10. Renovate Rather than Replace. Instead of throwing things out or discarding them for upgrades, try to renovate what you have at home, in order to give it that ‘new’ look, without dishing out the cash. There’s a lot you can do at home for simple improvements to what you already have.
So if you’re a modern home owner, take a close look at your own lifestyle. A few adjustments here and there won’t just be great for the environment, but they’ll be great for your household budget too!
Bill