3 Tips for Making a Home More “Green”
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and there’s no better time to think about getting more green. But not just the green of clothing to keep from getting pinched. There’s a more critical kind of green that many homeowners are striving for: the green of eco-friendly homeownership. Luckily, homeowners can do a few easy things to keep their carbon footprint small and their homes running smoothly. These tips are easy to incorporate for the whole household. Read on to find out about keeping the home green for St. Patrick’s Day and beyond.
Make Use of Natural Sunlight
One of the easiest ways to reduce a home’s carbon footprint is to make use of natural sunlight. This can cut down on electricity use and reduce the cost of replacing light bulbs over time. Natural light is also good for all kinds of other reasons, including mood, focus, and sleep patterns.
Providing natural light can be as easy as opening the blinds or as involved as replacing wooden doors with glass doors. Placing more mirrors around the house can help the natural light get to darker corners of the house where it otherwise wouldn’t. Opting for whites or light grays in decorations and wall colors can also help the house stay well-lit.
Energy Efficient Appliances
These days there are energy-efficient versions of pretty much every single common household appliance. These new appliances help save energy and water, as well as reducing greenhouse gasses. Eco-friendly washing machines and dishwashers do more with less water as well as less electricity.
Oftentimes, energy-efficient appliances, like dryers, ovens, and microwaves, require both less electricity and less maintenance. Some appliances are even tax-deductible. It’s also easy to reduce old fluorescent light bulbs with new, energy-efficient versions.
Homeowners can also reduce their home’s carbon footprint by opening the windows when it’s nice out. This can help to keep the heater and AC from being used when it’s not strictly necessary. When it’s nice outside, opening a few windows can help reduce electricity usage and provide fresh air and help clear indoor air pollutants.
Keep Plugs Empty When Not In Use
Although standby power doesn’t use a lot of energy, unplugging power cords can improve safety and reduce energy use to a small degree. This is especially true for older devices like VCRs and old tube televisions. Devices should utilize sleep modes when not in use. This will help save energy on things like computers.
Power strips with several devices plugged in should be turned off when the devices aren’t in use. The concept of “vampire” or standby power has some validity, and so keeping devices unplugged when not in use can help the environment. Although other changes can make more of an impact, like investing in energy-efficient appliances.
About Vetted HVAC Services
The folks at Vetted HVAC Services in Yorkton, SK, have a combined 120 years of experience. They offer superb workmanship from trustworthy technicians. They also provide up-front pricing and guaranteed peace of mind. Contact them today for more eco-friendly electrical services in Yorkton.
