Get Inspired By Easy Green Ideas

While it may seem like a daunting task to be more eco-friendly and create a “greener” home, however these simple steps will help you get moving in the right direction. With practice, these tips will become second-nature, and your home and family will benefit. Try it out and tell us what you think! If you feel inspired, read some of our other green and eco-friendly articles to help you even more.

1. During the day, try to remember to leave your lights off. Open the curtains and let the sunshine in to add natural light to your home. Hanging mirrors on the wall will also brighten up a darker room by reflecting light. During the evening, switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, which last 10 times longer than regular bulbs and use 75% less energy.
2. Rather than relying on disposable batteries, try using rechargeable ones. These will be able to power toys, electronics, and remote controls over and over, leaving no wasted material behind.
3. An easy way to save energy around the home is to plug your electronics into a central power strip. When you are not using them, just turn the power strip to off, which will quickly save your home energy.
4. If you do not use a central power strip, make a habit of unplugging your chargers after using your electronics. For example, do not leave your phone charger plugged in all day. This will save energy and lower your annual energy bill.
5. By selecting the cold water cycle whenever possible when washing your clothes, you will save a great deal of energy. Hot water heating while washing clothes accounts for about 90% of energy use. To take another green step, try drying your clothes on a clothes line outdoors when the weather is nice!
6. Rather than wash all of your dishes by hand, let the dishwasher do the work! This will save a significant amount of water use. To save even more energy, open the dishwasher after the last rinse to let the dishes air-dry.
7. During the winter, try to keep your thermostat at 68 degrees while you are at home and lower the temperaturewhen you leave the house or hit the sack. To stay warm and cozy, seal off any drafts in your windows and flip the switch on your ceiling fan to drive warm air down and heat up the room.