You do not need thousands of dollars to make your home green before winter just try this inexpensive green home improvements and you will have a secure home free from cold.
1. Change your furnace filters before winter. For less than $25.00 you will have your filters replaced because over time when filters are not replaced they get clogged. Some recommend you change every month or every three months. Nowadays there are filters that can last the entire season. You will save energy and that is one way to go green.
2. Insulate your pipes before winters-Unprotected pipes release a lot of heat so invest on cheap sleeves and attach them yourself. Look for pipes your bathroom sink, basement and those extending from the water heater. Insulate them all because they can burst if exposed to extreme cold.
3. Conduct your own energy audit because a professional energy audit is expensive. So spend sometime comparing your heating bills and by doing so you will see when the heating bill was too high. After you have figured out the problem them check your window, door for draft-use a lighter for a simple experiment.
4. Caulk your windows if during your own energy you find draft. Seal your windows from the exterior especially the problem areas. You can also caulk you’re your garage and exterior doors for a green and comfortable home.
5.Get a faucet aerator -a faucet aerator will control the flow of water. You can install it yourself and you will save so many gallons of water. Saving water is part of going green.
6. Dim the lights-Install a dimmer will cut down on your electric bill this will be one way of saving the environment and money.
7. Weather stripe your doors- By simply installing winter stripes you will be able to stop unnecessary drafts and air leaks around the door frame especially from the outside. Installing rubber, roll of felt or vinyl takes less than 20 minutes and you are going to save money and your house will be a little greener.
8. Slow the flow of your showerhead- Installing a new shower head will save you money especially if you are able to reduce the water flow to less than 2.5 gallons per minute. The slow shower head is one easy way to go green and save money.
9. Programmable thermostat-Installing this gadget will allow you to set the temperature. It will regulate the temperature while you are asleep and while you are away. Very easy to install and saves money and energy.
10. Ceiling fans- Install a ceiling fan or a portable fan and use it instead of your air condition will also save you money and for less than $50.00 you will going green by conserving energy.
Those are the ten projects you can work on one weekend and the savings are huge. If you thought going green was hard think again because saving water and energy is the main goal for going green and saving the planet.
Christine S. says:
Another simple money saver is to invest in a clothes drying rack and place it over one of your heat vents. The clothes dry quickly and it adds humidity to the air too.
JIM A. says:
Many people prefer to use a dryer and this is for those people. They can use the heat to warm their home.
Jim D. says:
Only vent a clothes dryer into the house if it is electric - gas dryer exhaust can contain dangerous fumes that should only go outside