Simple Ways to Green Your Home: Lower the Impacts of Everyday Living

Lower Your Utility Bill

Switch to compact flourescent light bulbs.

Replace some or all your incandescent bulbs with flourescent and enjoy reductions in heat production, energy use, and electric bills.

Savings: Changing five of the most frequently used light bulbs in your home can save you $100 per year on your electric bill.

Program your Thermostat

Keep the thermostat at 78 deg F or higher in the summer and 62 deg F or lower in the winter. Program the system to reduce output when they are not needed.

Savings: Reduce your energy bill by $100 per year or more.

Plug Air Leaks

Plug air leaks with weather stripping and caulk around window, doors, and other wall penetrations. You can keep your home at a temperature you desire, saving money on heating and air conditioning bills.

Savings: Reduce energy bill by $100 per year or more.

Tune Up Your Heating and Cooling (HVAC) System

Have a checkup for your HVAC system every 2 years to make sure it's running efficiently. Clean the filter monthly during the peak time of usage, a dirty filter can reduce the efficiency of HVAC.
Savings: Reduce electric bill by $100 per year or more.

Choose Energy Star Appliances

Energy Star products meet a high level of energy efficiency, which can translate on the savings of electric bills. When considering a price of a new product, take into account not only the purchase price, but also the long-term savings associated with it.

Savings: Reduce energy bill by $50 per appliance per year and more.

Reduce Water Use

Indoor: Add aerators to faucet which you can buy on local home supply store for few dollars, change to low-flowing showerhead which can lessen water use.

Outdoor: Incorporate native plants to landscape and avoid using turf grass to conserve water usage.

Savings: Reduce your water bill by as much as $100 per year or more.

Switch to Green Power

Green Power is optional utility service for costumers who want to expand the production and distribution of renewable energy technologies. You don't have to change your electricity provider but choose to pay a premium to cover cost on purchasing clean and renewable energy. For more info: http://www.eere.energy.gov

Choose Green Products

Buy Local

Buying local products reduces fuel consumption required for transportation from other parts of the country or the world. It also reduces the consumption of plastic or paper packaging of far-traveled products. Buying local reduces the use of valuable natural resources.

Use Low-VOC Products

Using products that don't give off VOC or volatile organic compound can increase indoor air quality.

Some of Low-VOC or non-VOC products:

Paint

Cleaning products: low-VOC products available on sale or you can make your own with household materials like baking soda, vinegar and borax.

Use Wood Alternatives or FSC-certified Wood Products

The type of materials use for flooring or cabinetry can have a positive effect on health and pocket while reducing environmental impacts.

• Consider using environmentally preferable and rapidly renewable products such as linoleum, bamboo, recycled-content tile and non-VOC carpet.


• Use wood products from sustainably manage forest such as those certified by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).


• Use locally produce products when possible to reduce carbon emission associated on transportation.

Use Rapidly Renewable Flooring Materials

Affordable, durable, and rich-looking flooring materials made from grass or trees that mature roughly in half the time or less it takes than hardwood to reach market size. Bamboo, cork and eucalyptus flooring are a sustainable alternative than hardwood.

Green Your Yard

Plant Trees to Provide Shade and Wind Protection to your House

Trees help keep your house cool plus a beautiful view around your home.

Use Native Plantings

Native plants require a minimal care because it is adapted to local soil and climate. It uses less water, fertilizer and pesticides. Additional info on green landscaping techniques: http://epa.gov/

Use Non-toxic Gardening Techniques

It reduces health-related problems due to use of toxic pesticides and gardening equipment emission. It will not pollute our clean air and water.

Green Your Transportation

Carpool, Use Public Transportation, Walk or Bike When Possible.

Green transportation greatly reduce energy expenditure and carbon emissions.

Buy a High-Efficiency Car

Check U.S. Department of Energy's list of most fuel efficient cars at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

I hope this will start you up to green living...

Source: http://www.usgbc.org