Please put your hands together for Amanda Kidd, a green maven and wonderful reader of this blog. Amanda reached out to me asking if she could write a post about her passion: green living. Given my own lifestyle and personal belief that taking care of our environment is not an option but a mission-critical effort for our own survival, I am thrilled that Amanda wanted to write about this subject. Here are 10 simple ways to get started living a green life in your home.
Going green does not have to be a daunting task that means sweeping life changes. Simple things can make a difference. Saving Energy is the need of the hour. Saving Power at home is the least we can do, but it will in the bigger picture save the energy consumption of the world by a huge figure. If every one of us does our bit, the earth will be definitely left with energy to see and feel. Here is a list of ten ways of saving energy while at home:
1. Do not pre-heat the oven
Unless you are making bread or pastries of some sort, don’t pre-heat the oven. Just turn it on when you put the dish in. Also, when checking on your food, look through the oven window instead of opening the door.
2. Hang dry
Get a clothesline or rack to dry your clothes by the air. Your wardrobe will maintain color and fit, and you’ll save money. Your favorite t-shirt will last longer too.
3. Change the light
Replace every regular light bulb with one of those new compact fluorescent bulbs, the pollution reduction would be equivalent to removing one million cars from the road. If you don’t want to put these bulbs everywhere use these bulbs for closets, laundry rooms and other places where it won’t irk you as much.
4. Don’t rinse
Skip rinsing dishes before using your dishwasher and you can save some gallons of water with each of your effort. Plus, you’re saving time and the energy used to heat the additional water.
5. Greener lawn care
If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning before any moisture is lost to evaporation. Have a few weeds and spot treat them with vinegar. If you want to rake, do it by hand it’s excellent exercise.
6. Turn off lights
Always turn off lights when you leave a room. Fluorescent bulbs are more affected by the number of times it is switched on and off, so turn them off when you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. You’ll save energy on the bulb itself, but also on cooling costs, as lights contribute heat to a room.
7. Adjust your thermostat
Adjust your thermostat one degree higher in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter. It can save about 10% on your energy use. In addition, invest in a programmable thermostat which allows you to regulate temperature based on the times you are at home or away.
8. Buy local
Consider the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy from local farmers or farmers’ markets, supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in.
9. Keep your fireplace dampers closed
Keeping the damper open (when you’re not using your fireplace) is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney. This can add up to hundreds of dollars each winter in energy loss. So, keep it close.
10. Drive Smart
Driving like a drag racer may be fun, but it has a substantial environmental cost. Simple changes in existing driving habits can improve fuel efficiency. Drive at or near the speed limit, keep your tires inflated, make sure oil and air filters are clean, and step on the gas and the brakes carefully.
You too can create an impact which would be noticeable in environment by making your home green and adopting the above mention things in your daily life. The change is worth noticing.
Amanda is a writer who is an ardent follower of environment friendly existence. She found an answer of green living in her eco friendly home to which she takes an utmost care and prefers to take all the measures which would create an eco friendly ambiance in and around her abode.
Christa Avampato 