10 Steps to turn your whatever-coloured house into a Green Home
No matter if you walk with blue suede shoes on a red carpet, if you have an orange phone or a Brown prime minister – even if you live in a White House (especially if live in a White House), it’s time to go green.
You can do this with some ornamental vegetables a bit of khaki house paint and a few throw pillows. But a better way is to create an environmentally friendly home with reduced energy use, increased recycling efforts and better sustainable living habits. It’s easier then you think, and even comes with its own theme song (“Mrs. Green, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”). Here’s what to do:
- Dial down your water heater by 10 degrees. By reducing the temperature, you can save 3 to 5% in your energy costs, and your finger gets some exercise.
- Lower your thermostat by that same magic number: 10 degrees. Even if you do this for just the 8 hours your family is out at work or school, you’ll save another 10% on your energy bill. (You’re good with numbers, aren’t you?)
- Get a high-performance showerhead. That doesn’t mean a drippier shower – most are now designed to give you the same high blast of watery goodness – but it’ll use 60% less water. And you can drink some of the savings.
- Clean your lint trap regularly. Treat it like a holiday – celebrate the occasion! And besides, doing this simple task can reduce your family’s energy use by 30%.
- Use chemical free, natural cleaners. Baking soda, salt, and vinegar are just a few natural cleaners you can use to clean your home (we've given you a link to some recipes in the side menu) You won’t even need rubber gloves. (Though you should probably wear them anyway. And don’t drink the vinegar.)
- Replace major appliances with Energy Star models. They’re gorgeous, and have been tested to save energy. That’ll save you money and help the environment. And boy do they look good in your green home!
- Install double-pane windows. Okay, so it’s a bit of a pain, but in the long run (and let’s face it – we all want a long run) it’ll save you money and be good for the planet. What more could you ask for? 8. Remove your carpeting. Crazy, right? But there are renewable, sustainable, environmentally friendly alternatives that are much healthier and easier to keep clean – such as bamboo, cork, and reclaimed wood. Walk different!
- Get some house plants. Our little green friends are nature’s way of cleaning the air and producing oxygen. (Just make sure your “little green friends” are from the right planet.)
- Use Green Energy. Many European and US retail customers now have the option to choose green usage from their energy provider. If you go this route (and we urge you to take it – it’s very scenic), you’ll be using energy created directly from renewable sources like wind and solar power.
Face it – green’s a lovely colour. Let’s spread it around.