“Going green” does not have to mean expensive investments like solar panels, sustainable wood flooring, and nontoxic paints. Experts say that simple changes in your everyday life are all it takes to make your home a healthier, safer, greener place to be.
To help you get started, here are some environmentally friendly living for tips on how you can turn your home sweet home into home green home.
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs use just a quarter of the electricity of regular incandescent bulbs. Plus, they last up to ten times longer.
Turn off the lights. You can even install movement sensors in your home so lights only activate when needed. Another way to save energy is to install automatic timers for lights frequently left on in empty rooms.
Set cooling and heating temperatures correctly. Your refrigerator and freezer are probably the biggest electrical energy consumers in your house. Take steps to make sure they are not working harder than necessary. Refrigerators can be set around 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezers set at minus 3 keep things nice and frosty. Be sure to close the fridge and freezer doors. Leaving them open for just a few extra seconds wastes a lot of energy.
Get an electronic thermostat so your furnace heats your home to a lower temperature. In the winter, set your thermostat at 68 degrees in the day and 55 degrees at night. In the summer, keep it at 78. Water heaters work most efficiently between 120 and 140 degrees.
Learn to unplug. Electronic appliances, including TVs, computers, and CD players, can consume almost as much energy when in standby mode as they do during the amount of time they are being used.
Use appliances efficiently. Wait for a full load before turning on the washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher. Clear the lint filter after every dryer load and air-dry clothes when weather allows. Use the air-dry function on your dishwasher. Preheat your oven only when necessary.
Let the sun shine. The cheapest and most environmentally sound heat and light source is the sun. Open blinds, drapes, and shutters to let solar energy warm and brighten your home naturally.
Fix leaks. Plug, insulate, replace, repair, caulk, or seal to make your home as leak-proof as possible. This will also lower your utility bills.
Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com. For more information on “Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer”, please watch our video at greencleancertified.com/greentv.
