The cost of utilities (heating, air, water & electricity) may always be a good portion of your home’s bills, but by making your home more eco-friendly, you can take those payments down a notch or two. Going green isn’t as tough as you think. Making smart, environmentally friendly choices is part of it, but using the technology right in your pocket can also lower your bills and make your home greener.
Here are 10 ways that you can live green and be a better friend to the environment.
- Green apps. There are plenty of apps that can help you monitor your appliances and your home’s energy usage.
- Solar power.Invest in solar panels. These 6 x 10 panels are a great way to go green because they don’t use fossil fuels, and they don’t add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
- Water wisdom. Taking a shower with a traditional showerhead can use up to 5 gallons of water per minute. Installing a smart showerhead can cut your water usage considerably. They can sense when you are in the shower, and change the flow depending on how you’re using the showerhead.
- Smart thermostats. By tracing your behavior and movement, this product can adjust your home’s temperature accordingly.
- Reuse and recycle. Reduce your use of paper & plastic products. Use reusable, washable cloths and glass or ceramic dishes and containers whenever possible. Know what you can recycle and be conscientious about doing it. Make sure to involve the kids. They’ll love being able to tell you what’s on the approved recycling list!
- Switch up your lights. Choose compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Even if you just change your porch light, laundry or utility room light to an LED or CFL, you’ll be saving energy.
- Update your appliances. Buy Energy-Star certified products. And use them to their best ability. Keep your fridge & freezer full — they run more efficiently that way.
- Save energy outside, too. Put a rain barrel by your downspout to collect rainwater to use in your garden later. Plant a tree on your property. Trees provide wildlife habitat and help cool the planet. Use an outdoor clothesline or indoor drying rack whenever possible.
- Low-tech tricks. A ceiling fan can help save on heating & cooling bills by circulating cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter. In the summer, keep your blinds or drapes closed during the day, then open them in the evening. And in the winter, do the opposite.
- Clean air alert. Use paints low in VOCs, which are harmful chemicals found in many paints and stains. Look for cleaning products that are biodegradable, phosphate-free, VOC-free, and not tested on animals. And clean your indoor air with houseplants. They can clear toxins like benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from the air.
Learn about the energy smart features built into your new Elite Home.