How to Make Your Home Green

Making your home green simply means making it more friendly for the environment. It is a conscious decision not to waste energy and to begin doing your part to help out the planet. The best part is that you will actually save money when you start making your home a little greener. You can go crazy and implement all of the steps at once, or you can take them one step at a time.

Instructions

1

Remove all of your regular light bulbs and replace them with compact fluorescent energy-saving light bulbs. These light bulbs use 3/4 less electricity than regular light bulbs, and they can last up to seven years. Initially, the light bulbs may cost you a few extra dollars to install, but in the long run they will save you a lot of money.

2

Purchase a low-flow shower head for each of the showers in your home. This shower head just screws on, so it is a very easy project to take on. The shower head will regulate the flow of the water, so you don't waste any. This saves water, energy and money.

3

Unplug all electronics and appliances in your home when they are not in use. You may think you are not using any energy when your appliances and electronics are not on, but that is wrong. Any device that is plugged in is using some kind of electricity. It is best to unplug appliances when you are finished using them. This only takes an extra second of your time, and it is well worth it in the end.

4

Adjust your thermostat. Start keeping the thermostat two degrees lower than normal in the winter and two degrees higher in the summer. It is such a slight change that you probably won't even notice. You also will want to turn the thermostat down when you are going to bed for the night, or when you are planning on being away from your home for more than two hours. This will drastically save you energy and money on your heating bill.

5

Swap your appliances for some that contain an Energy Star rating. This means the appliance has passed many tests that prove it saves on the amount of electricity needed to run it. It is a great way to make your home green.

6

Start using solar panels to get your energy from the sun instead of the electric company. If you decide to install all the necessary solar panels at once, it can be a little expensive. There is another option, however. Add a few new solar panels each year until you have enough to provide all of the energy your home needs.

7

Have an energy test done on your home, so you can find out where air is escaping from the home. Then take the time to plug up those areas so you are not wasting heat in the winter or air conditioning in the summer. You also will be able to tell if your insulation is doing a good job, or whether you need more of it.