Simple Tips to Green Your Home

Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, chances are you care about protecting the environment – and saving money. Going Green will not only cut your costs, but can also add value to your home.

Saving energy is the key to a green home. On or off, anything plugged into the wall sucks energy, hence its reputation as “vampire power.” Vampire power costs U.S. consumers more than $3 billion a year according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. To prevent unwanted energy consumption, unplug your electronics and appliances when they’re not in use. When it comes to the lights in your home, replacing incandescent bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs will save you about $6 a year in electricity costs per light.

Heating and cooling the home is another place energy can easily be saved. Adjusting your thermostat by just a few degrees while you’re out can save energy and money. You can even make it easier by installing a programmable thermostat. Windows are also an important part of the puzzle, and while new windows certainly add equity, you can always insulate your current windows. To do so, you can caulk exterior joints and put shrink-wrap on them in the colder months.

Your home’s air quality is another important consideration. Changing the filters on your heating and cooling systems every few months will keep the air clean and save energy. Also, remember that houseplants are like living air-filters. English Ivy, rubber trees, peace lilies and red-edged dracaena can help clean the air and look nice while they do it.

Sometimes it may seem it’s not easy being green, but some thoughtful, inexpensive changes can save you money each month, make your home more valuable and marketable and most importantly, make it a healthier place for you and your family to live.

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