Going green at home is a great way to save the environment while saving money on your home. Also, thinking green throughout the year can offer some significant benefits.
Here are 6 money saving tips that benefit your wallet and the environment.
1. Insulate well
A good insulation will keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Aim for an R-value of 50 or a depth of 16 inches (41 cm).
For whole home efficiency, ensure that all the important areas of your home are well insulated, not only the attic but also crawl spaces, basement headers, walls, and ceilings.
2. Call on your countertop appliances
Small appliances use less energy, so use the microwave or toaster oven rather than the stove whenever you can.
3. Turn down the heat in winter
For every 1 degree Celsius you lower your thermostat, you can save 2 per cent on your heating bill.
4. Turn down your air conditioning in the summer
Setting your room temp at 25 degrees Celsius nets you the most comfort for the least cost.
5. Use power bars and turn them off
Standby loss is the energy you waste (and pay for) simply by having appliances powered up even when they're turned off.
Everyday home electronics use hundreds of kilowatt-hours of energy per year, even when they're not in use.
Put your home office appliances on one power bar, your entertainment gadgets on another, and turn the power bars off when you turn in.
6. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models, and only do laundry or run the dishwasher when you have full loads
There are simple but effective improvements that can provide valuable monthly savings for you, while protecting our environment for the future.