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3 Ways to Create an Eco Friendly House

Creating an eco friendly home can start small, with just a few easy steps. As you save money, you can move into bigger changes to save even more. You may be surprised to learn that saving canada goose black friday sale the planet can also save your wallet!

Slay “energy vampires.” Most electronic devices and appliances draw energy when they’re plugged in even if they’re switched off. Most Americans own 25+ electronic devices. You can cut your energy consumption by unplugging your appliances and devices when they’re not in use.[1]

You can also plug appliances and devices into power canada goose coats on sale strips. Switching the strip off will prevent them Canada Goose online from drawing power.

Set your computer to “sleep” or “hibernate” when you’re not using it. You can pick up right where you left off when Canada Goose Outlet you come back, canada goose coats but your buy canada goose jacket cheap computer will use a lot less energy.

Replace your old light https://www.canadagooseparks.com canada goose deals bulbs. Old fashioned incandescent light bulbs waste up to 90% of their energy as heat. New types of light bulbs, such as compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED bulbs, can dramatically slash your house’s energy consumption for light.[2] In most cases, you don’t have to do a thing to your existing light fixtures. Just buy different bulbs and swap them out!

CFLs are like the fluorescent bulbs in supermarkets, but they’re shaped in a small coil and are about the same shape and size as incandescent bulbs. They last about ten times as long as an incandescent bulb. They’re usually a little bit more expensive, but they pay for themselves within a year.

CFLs are a good choice for most home lighting situations. However, they usually cannot be dimmed, and they waste a lot of their energy when used in recessed or “can” lights. Because CFLs contain a small (but rarely dangerous) amount of mercury, they must be disposed of carefully. The Environmental canada goose Protection Agency has full instructions on their website.[3]

LEDs last up to 35 times longer than an incandescent bulb, and between 2 4 times longer than CFLs. LEDs are cool to the touch, so they don’t use much energy at all. However, Canada Goose sale they are usually still more expensive than either incandescent or CFL bulbs.[4]

LEDs are a good choice for most home lighting situations. Unlike incandescent and CFL bulbs, LEDs emit “directional” light, meaning the light is focused in a specific direction (like a spotlight). They are a great choice for canada goose clearance recessed lighting. Only Energy Star certified LED bulbs are specifically designed to replicate the omnidirectional light of a traditional light bulb. Look for the Energy Star label to make sure that the LED bulbs you buy give you the look you want.

Even better, open curtains and windows during daylight hours to canada goose store use natural light. This can really cut power costs and also save Canada Goose Jackets loads of energy.[5]

Compost your kitchen scraps. Many things we throw away on a daily basis can be composted instead. Coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, even napkins and paper towels can be canada goose clearance sale recycled to produce compost, which is great for gardens.[6]

Keeping food scraps out of landfills is good for the environment! It keeps them from building up methane gas (which is a major part of global warming) as they decompose in plastic trash bags, and it helps reduce the amount of waste in landfills.

Even if you live in an urban area, you can keep a compost bin on a balcony or porch. Many online retailers sell ready to go compost kits.

Wash your laundry in cold water. 80 90% of the energy used when you run your washing machine comes from heating up the water for hot water washes. Use the “cold water” or “eco” mode on your washing machine to save energy.[7]

Several companies, such as Tide, make eco friendly cold water detergents. Canada Goose Parka If your laundry has tough or frequent stains, these could be a good option cheap goose to help your clothes get clean even in cold water.[8]

Look for natural detergents and stain removers, if you can. These cheap Canada Goose are usually plant based canada goose replica and biodegradable, making them much more eco friendly.[9]

Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can monitor your house temperature, keeping it warmer or cooler when you’re not there. For example, if you’re away during the day at work, a programmable thermostat can keep the inside temperature warmer than you’d usually keep it, and trigger the A/C only when you get home. Using one properly can save you up to $180 a year.[12]

Do some research before investing in a programmable thermostat. If yours isn’t easy to use, it might not end up saving you money or Canada Goose Online energy.[13]

Replace old appliances. Your Canada Goose Coats On Sale old appliances, such as water heaters, refrigerators, and stoves, could be wasting a lot of energy. Replacing them with Energy Star qualified products will ensure that your home uses less energy.[14]

There are often tax credits for replacing old, energy inefficient products with new eco friendly ones. The US Department of Energy has a full list of these credits here.[15]

If you can’t afford to replace your water heater, buy a specially designed insulating blanket and wrap it around the water heater. These blankets are available at most home improvement stores and take only a few minutes to install. This will help reduce wasted energy.[16]

Insulate attics and basements. A lot of energy can seep out through your attic and basement. Insulating these areas can reduce your home’s energy consumption. It can also cut your heating and cooling bills by making it easier to maintain a consistent temperature inside.[20]

GreenFiber cellulose insulation is an eco friendly alternative to traditional insulation. GreenFiber is made of shredded recycled newspapers. It can be canadian goose jacket blown through small holes into walls, so it is easy to use when you’re remodeling. You buy canada goose jacket can find a dealer at their website.

Insulate windows. If your budget won’t allow for replacing older, inefficient windows, insulating them can be a good option to make your home more energy efficient. It’s easy to insulate your windows and keep your home cozy year round.[24]

Use caulking and weatherstripping around windows to stop air from seeping in (or out). This can cut heat loss in the winter and keep you cool in the summer.

Thermal or light blocking window treatments can also help reduce energy waste by blocking sunlight. This is particularly helpful in hot climates.[25]

Make sure to use draught stoppers at the bottom of doors, too. You can buy these at many retailers, or make your own.

Install solar panels. Solar energy is clean and renewable. With many panels, surplus energy can be transferred to a battery and stored for later use. Installing solar panels can reduce your home’s carbon footprint, on average, by 35,180 pounds. That’s equivalent to the carbon dioxide absorbed by 88 trees. Investing in solar power will require some upfront cash, but it will pay off in the long run, for you and the planet.[28].