| Simple Ideas To Make Your House More Green |
|
|
|
| Written by Isla Hitchcock | |
| Tuesday, 23 September 2008 | |
|
Current gas costs and new reports of global warming have put an increased focus on helping the environment. The problem seems so huge and so complicated that you may be thinking, what can one person do? Surprisingly, there's much you can do.
Current gas prices and new reports of planetary warming have put an increased focus on helping the environment. The problem seems so vast and so complex that you may be thinking, what can one person do? Surprisingly, there's much you can do. The home is one of the simplest and most convenient things you can begin with. Making your home eco friendly is a project that will provide you a sense of satisfaction as well as a high market value should you decide to sell. Just use some extra time that you have on the weekends to get dirty and work on the house. You can even include the rest of the family. Installing solar panels on either your roof or another convenient nearby structure saves electricity, money, and fossil fuels. Sunshine is collected and converted to usable household electricity, where it may be used immediately. When more electricity is created than used, public utility companies sometimes buy excess power from you, depending on how your solar panels are set up. Buy a used solar panel for an economical way to make this upgrade to your home. If going for a used option, ensure it is in good working order first. Placing rain barrels in your yard is an inexpensive and easy way to conserve water that normally runs off the roof and into a storm drain. Simply take a large trash can or other clean plastic barrel, install a water-tight spout near the bottom but high enough to fit a bucket or watering can under, and place the barrel underneath the downspout of the gutter, allowing rain runoff to flow in. The water, while not drinkable, can be used to water plants or wash cars etc. A third idea is to make sure your home is correctly insulated and sealed. Make sure your insulation is placed in the right places in the house, especially in the attic since most energy is lost or gained through the roof. Also, ensure all doors and windows have proper seals around their edges. A little caulk or specialized sealant could prevent a lot of energy loss through those little spaces. Finally, replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with flourescent ones, at least where they are most used, can save energy because they use less electricity to create the same amount of light with gas-filled tubes rather than heated filaments. Make it a habit to conserve energy and be conscious of those times when you do use energy. Turn off the lights if you leave the room. Don't leave the water running when brushing your teeth. And don't leave the refrigerator door open for a long period of time. Remember to use resources like your local library and conservation and governmental internet sites to find many more eco-friendly tips. When it comes to making changes and personal choices to help lessen the negative impact on the planet, there is something for everyone, and everyone benefits from them. Authors Bio: Isla Hitchcock likes writing about matters relating to the home, including topics as diverse as above ground pool liner replacement and how to winterize a pool. One person has commented on this article. No.1 Untitled Thank you for the neat tips! Are there ways to make your home pool more green? I'm currently in the middle of designing my next pool and I am wondering if there any ideas that I should tell my <a href="http://presidentialpools.com">pool contractor phoenix</a> about. Submitted by KC, Registered • 2011-06-21 21:35:41 |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
