Posts Tagged ‘Ways’

Tiny Little Ways to go Green You Probably Never Thought Of

So you’re committed to going green, but are you doing all that you can? In this eco-conscious era, most people practice the basics of reducing, reusing and recycling. But there is more you can do around the house to save energy, save money and ultimately save the planet.

The right light: We all know turning off lights when we leave the room can save energy and money. Using the right light bulb will make those savings go even further.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights bulbs (CFLs).In addition to using 75% less energy than regular bulbs, CFLs last longer and save you money. You can expect to save about $30 in energy costs over a bulb’s lifetime.

Pull the plug: Electric devices, even when they are switched off, still use power. This phenomenon is called “phantom” or “vampire” power. Added together, phantom power from appliances like cell phone chargers, printers, DVD players and flat screen TVs can add 10% to your residential power costs. Yes, that comes from that little light that shows they are ready to be used at your command. Unplug these devices when you’re not using them. And don’t leave the computer on all night to complete downloads.

Use a power bar: An easier way to combat the “phantom” power menace? Plug appliances into a common power bar. One flick of the switch turns off up to six appliances at once. Some power bars even have “smart” outlets, which will leave selected appliances on while powering down the others that must be kept on.

Wash cold: 90% of the energy involved in doing laundry goes to heating the water. Washing your clothes on cold is one of the easiest ways to cut down on costs and electricity. An added bonus: it keeps your colours brighter as well.

Hang to dry: The other laundry energy sucker? The dryer. Hang clothes to dry outside in the summer time. In the winter, a simple drying rack in the laundry room will do the trick. Ditching the dryer in the summer alone can save you more than $40.

Plug the leaks: That draughty window in the living room is making your furnace work overtime. A quick trip to the hardware store will get you all you need to fix the problem. The other areas where leaks are common are in faucets and showerheads. Taking the time to tighten them up will save water and money over time. Want added savings? Install low-flow showerheads and faucets while you’re at it.

Turn it down: Reducing the temperature on your thermostat by just one or two degrees can save you as much as 15% on your heating bill. Turning down the temperature a little more when you’re out of the house goes even further. If you’re forgetful, try installing a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature for the time of day.

Plant a garden: Even small plants can save you several trips to the grocery store as well as the fossil fuels burned in transporting food. In the summer, it’s easy to sprinkle a few seeds to grow your own veggies. A few simple herbs like chives, parsley and mint practically grow themselves. Add a couple of lettuce plants for a complete DIY salad in your own back yard.

Improve the Light Quality in Your Home in Trouble-Free Ways

In every house, health and safety must be taken into consideration at all times. Unfortunately, some people think that lighting has nothing to do with the two needs at home. You could take care of your eyesight and prevent accidents in any area in your house if you have the right amount of light existing in each room.

To effectively enhance the quality and amount of natural light in your house, you could start with installing small skylights. These could be aid in bringing daylight into a dark area. On the other hand, you need to ensure that the skylight type you would use does not allow too much sunlight and heat penetrate the room. You could also opt for clerestory windows or roof monitors.

For the windows, you may need to replace your old ones with the energy-efficient types manufactured today. These are vinyl windows that let in the right amount of light at the same time seals in the heat needed indoors. Glazed windows are also effective in allowing light to come through while disabling heat loss or gain problems. If you want as much light into the room, the high visual light transmittance value type is appropriate for you. If your problem is mainly minimizing heat transfer, select the ones with high R-value. When you want to diminish glare, those with lower light transmittance value are a good choice.

As for additional lighting, you may want to install downlights. These could be installed indoors especially in ceiling cavities. This type of electric lighting does not only add more illumination into any room but enhances the interior design of your home. There are a variety of designs and forms to choose from. Be sure that you pick the low-voltage halogen dichroic globes. These offer better lighting while you save on the bills.

Another enhancement you could take in is through lamps. Ensure that you pick the lamp shades with light colors so your rooms could be provided with more general light. You could also pick the ones with dimmers to easily control the amount of light. As for the bulbs, you are once again faced with so many choices. From tungsten or GLS to compact fluorescent bulbs, you have to carefully choose which one best fits your lamp and the amount of light you need. Energy efficiency and price of the bulb should be your main priorities.

Lighting in your home could be improved not only with the means of lighting fixtures. You could also change the color of your walls and the arrangement of the furniture and blinds or drapes, if any. Choose the paint color that would brighten the room. Your windows should not be obstructed. Clear the path of light so you could maximize the daylight coming in. You could also pick window treatments that have both UV protection and high light penetration. There are different shades and blinds that offer such qualities.

Improving your home lighting offers you double benefits. The risks of tripping, falling, slipping and poor vision are significantly reduced when each room has the appropriate amount and quality of light.