50 Ways Your Home Could Save the Earth

50 TO_BLUR WAYS YOUR HOME COULD SAVE THE EARTH Being green doesn't require spending lots of money on fancy gadgets. An environmentally-responsible home not only saves you money, but saves the earth too. LIVING ROOM REPLACE O BULBS USE CFL BULBS You will save 66% more energy by replacing incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL). It will save 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions if you trade in 1 incandescent light bulb for 1CFL bulb. •UNPLÙG TVs are typically left on standby for 17 hours per day. Unplug your TV when it's not in use to save electricity. USE EXTENSION LEADS By using multi socket extension leads and turning it off when not in use, you can reduce your home's energy consumption by up to 15%. BAMBOO IS BETTER Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. This quick rate of replenishment means it's more environmentally friendly than timber trees to use as hardwood flooring. OPEN THE BLINDS . 10% of energy can be saved on heating when you open the blinds during the day to let the sunlight in. PARTY! MAGIC CARPETS Invite friends over in the winter. Each person can generate the same amount of warmth as a 100-watt heater. Using rugs on wooden floors can save 4%-6% on energy bills. O GET A BOOSTER FAN TURN IT DOWN Booster fans improve airflow by up to 80%. Better airflow can moderate 10 You can save up to £60 annually by turning your thermostat down by 1°C. the temperature in your home, reducing heating or cooling costs. KITCHEN 12 11 REFRIDGERATOR SHADY FRIDGES GAZING Having your refrigerator in the sunlight will force it to work harder to keep cool. Move your refrigerator into the shade. Peeking into the refrigerator can cost £18 - £36 per year. ide what you want before opening the door! 13 LOW-ENERGY**** APPLIANCES 14 | -7.6cm- "Energy Star-Qualified' appliances use 10%-50% less energy than standard models. The recommended space between the refrigerator and the wall to ensure proper airflow. 15 COMPOST KITCHEN SCRAPS 16 Separating and composting kitchen scraps not only reduces the amount of household waste in landfill but also eases the costs associated CLEAN WIH VINEGAR It's a natural way to kill bacteria, germs and mold. with rubbish collection. USE A 17 USE ENERGY-EFFICIENT MICROWAVE COOKWARE 50% less energy is used by a microwave oven than a conventional oven. Use glass, silicone or ceramic dishes. They're the most efficient to use in the oven and 18 88:88 can reduce the cooking temperature required. 20 MULTITASK ® SMART 19 DISHWASHING IN THE OVEN Save energy by avoiding pre-rinsing, always running a full load, and air-drying the dishes at the end. Use both oven racks at the same time to bake, roast or warm up food. KEEP IT 21 The oven temperature can drop by 65°C when opening the door for 30 seconds. Don't be tempted to keep unnecessarily checking-in on your cooking! CLOSED BEDROOM ECO- e SCENTS GROW HOUSEPLANTS 22 Instead of chemicals and synthetic fragrances, opt for 100% essential oils and Be literally green and improve the air quality in your bedroom. 23 non-aerosol scents. 25 USE ECO-PAINTS REPURPOSE They contain very low levels of 24 volatile organic compounds. Get creative! Reuse and repurpose old furniture instead of buying brand new. SLEEP ON ORGANIC O SHEETS WOOL 26 Cotton linens account for 25% of the 27 NOT POLYESTER world's insecticide use. Switch to organic cotton or sustainable bamboo instead. If you have a choice between wool and polyester blankets, go for wool. It's more eco-friendly to produce. 28 ENERGY-EFFICIENT WINDOWS NON-TOXIC MATTRESS Energy-efficient windows will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the Purchase a new mattress that has winter due to their better insulation. not been treated with synthetic chemicals and toxic materials. BATHROOM TURN IT OFF 31 INSTALL A LOW-FLOW TOILET When brushing your teeth, 30 remember to turn off the tap. Flushing toilets account for 30% of total indoor water use. STOP LEAKS 33 32 BUY RECYCLED TOILET PAPER 182 litres of water is lost per week from a leaky tap. SHAVE SMART 34 OPEN YOUR WINDOWS Use a cup of warm water to 35 rinse your razor rather than using the tap. Excess humidity causes mold. If there's no toxic mold, there's no need to use any harmful chemicals. INSTALL A 0 LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEAD A family of 4 can annually save 160,000 litres of water by installing a low-flow showerhead. GET A SPIDER PLANT FIX 38 LEAKY TOILETS A leaky toilet can waste 757 litres every day. If it's leaking, get it fixed ASAP. Having a spider plant in the bathroom will help purify the air. 39 SHOWER Taking a shower can use as little as 14% of water used during a bath. BAPH UTILITY ROOM .. WASH AT 30°C HANG DRY Washing clothes at this temperature uses around 40% less electricity than washing at higher temperatures, saving £13 annual on energy bills. 42 ENERGY STAR 2-3 kg of carbon emissions is produced for every hour a dryer is in use. Hang dry your clothes instead. An Energy Star washing machine can save 50% more water, compared to a standard model. COLD 43 USE SOAP IS BETTER NUTS 85% - 90% of energy goes into heating water when washing clothes. Use cold water instead. These are the berry of the saponus bush. Completely natural and hypoallergenic, they can be used for washing laundry and can be composted once they're no longer reusable. O USE CONCENTRATED These have reduced packaging and a smaller carbon footprint due to their cheaper transport cost. DETERGENT GARDEN COMPOST ORGANIC MATTER INSTALL A WATER BUTT 47 46 Composting organic waste can reduce the need for water, fertilizers and sticides. Water butts can reduce your council's water system strain by 70%. 48 Burning logs made of alternative materials will release 80% fewer FIRE PIT emissions than regular wood when burned. Options include logs made from recycled sawdust, used coffee beans and soy. NATIVE USE HOME MADE PESTICIDES 50 Chopped tomato leaf spray or garlic oil spray are just a few recipes that can keep bugs away. LANDSCAPING Protect your local environment by planting plants that are native to your area. Small things do make a big difference. Even if only do a few of the actions above, you'll be one step closer to living on a greener planet. you can SOURCES Environmental Benefits - epa.gov Green Home Guide - wholeliving.com Earth-Friendly Bedroom Basics - hgtv.com 22 Little Ways to Go Green - thisoldhouse.com How to be green in your garden - telegraph.co.uk 8 Ways to Go 'Green' in Your Kitchen - webmd.com Green Your Kitchen Routine - vegetariantimes.com 5 ways to create an eco-friendly bathroom - mnn.com good to be home How to Make Your House Green - housebeautiful.com Quick Tip: Keep the Oven Door Closed - thekitchn.com How to Green Your Laundry Room - money.usnews.com Bedroom and Bathroom Decorating - marthastewart.com Make Your Home and Yard More Eco-Friendly - webmd.com Backyard Campfires with an Ecofriendly Fire Pit - forbes.com "Is it really better to wash clothes at 30C?" - telegraph.co.uk The 10 easiest ways to green your home realestate.msn.com A Room-by-Room Guide to Making Your House Eco-Friendly - cbn.com Bamboo Flooring Environmental Benefits - bamboo-flooring-facts.com Photo gallery: 14 easy ways to make your home eco-friendly - canadianliving.com 8 Eco Tips To Create Your Green Bedroom Oasis - jessicaroberts.realtytimes.com Make Your Garden and Backyard Eco-Friendly with These Ten Easy Steps - green-trust.org Green property: George Clarke's top 20 ways to make your home eco-friendly - telegraph.co.uk Beth Greer: Is Your Bedroom Toxic? 5 Easy Ways to Get a Restful Nights Sleep - huffingtonpost.com