Going Green? 3 Tips To Help Make That Happen!
June 12th, 2009 categories: Home Improvements and Design
Today many people are familiar with going green, but a lot of people don’t know 
where to begin. Here are 3 easy tips to help begin that process that wont cost you a lot of money:
- Efficient Lighting - A) Take a look at the lighting in your home and see if you’re using older, inefficient bulbs. BR type bulbs, with the slight bulge designed to focus light where needed, are exempt from efficiency and standards. B) Once you have replaced the incandescent bulbs with CFL’s in your home, consider replacing older specialty lighting with new lamps (a bit more expensive but worth it).
- Stay Warm This Winter – A) Leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. B) A bit more expensive, but worth it! Insulate your water heater with a fitter water heater blanket. Insulate at least the first 6-10 feet of hot water supply pipe with pipe insulation and set your hot water heater at 120 degrees.
- The Great Dishwasher Debate – A) Don’t rinse your dishes under running water, instead scrape them and put them in the dishwasher. Skip the dry cycle and use the “energy saver” or “light wash” setting. B) Install a faucet aerator that can save 3 to 4 gallons per minute when you turn on the tap. If you hand wash dishes, don’t let the tap run. Scrape food off the dishes, soak them in a soapy wash bin and then rinse in another bin.
For more Green tips, please email me at: kathy@kathyvilla.com