The green movement is in full force in today s day and age. More and more people are becoming conscious of their decisions and how they impact the environment. Many people think that you have to make drastic moves to make your house more green. However, there are many small things that you can do that will help make a positive impact on the environment. Here are a few things that you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly.
1. Tint your windows Tinting the windows on your house can help in a number of ways. Besides saving your skin from harmful UV rays, it also helps with the utility bill. When you tint your windows, it will reduce the amount of direct sunlight and heat that comes in through the glass. Therefore, you will not have to run the air conditioner all the time in the summer. During the winter, it has an insulating effect on the house and helps keep it warmer. Less utilities used means a lower impact on the environment.
2. Change the light bulbs Using the old style of light bulbs in your house can cost you a lot of money in the long run. With new compact fluorescent lights or CFL s you can do a lot to help the environment. By changing the light bulbs in your house you can save over $100 per year. When many people do this, it can drastically cut down on the amount of greenhouse gases that are used every year.
3. Thermostat programming Most of the new thermostats out there have the capability to be programmed. You can tell the thermostat when to turn on, when to turn off, and what temperature you want the house kept on. With this type of technology, you can change the temperature when you are gone. If its cold outside, you can allow the temperature to go down a few degrees while you are out and then have it kick on a few minutes before you get home. This will save energy when no one is in the house and you won t even know the difference. Over the course of a year, this can make a huge difference in your utility usage.
4. Keep out the drafts Many houses allow air in and out through several cracks and openings. Around the edge of windows and doors, there is a good chance that air is coming in through the cracks. When you are trying to heat a house in the winter, this can make a huge difference. This problem can be solved very simply with a little bit of weather stripping or caulk. If you have a gap in your door, go buy a weather strip and install it. It s cheap and easy and it makes a big difference.
There are many different things that you can do to make your house more green and energy efficient. Implement some of these measures and you will notice a big difference in your energy bills and you ll help the environment as you go.