The Best Way to Green Your Home

My mother and father both come from 5 children homes. My father's house growing up had 7 people living in it, 2 bedrooms, and one bathroom. My mother's house growing up was similar. It had 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Essentially, houses were built smaller than they are today, even if there were a ton of people crammed into them. This was the 50s and a different time.

When I was growing up as an only child, we lived in a house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. I now live in a house with 2 adults and one dog. It's 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. The point is that we seem to be getting bigger houses with less people living in them. Is there really a need for all this "extra" space that just costs us more money to heat and cool it? Not only does it dwindle down our cash, but it also hacks away at our energy sources.

In fact, the average home size in 1950 was 1,000 square feet. By 2005, this figure increased by 150% to 2,500 square feet. We're having smaller families today, but need more space. Does that make sense?

At least 7 energy sucking items in your home

Did you know that there are some "plugged in" items in your home that are sucking energy (electricity) even when you're not using them? Not only does this have an effect on your wallet when it comes time to pay your electric bill, but it wastes energy too.

Consider unplugging these electric guzzlers when you're not using them and plug them in only when you need to use them. It'll make a difference.

1. Televisions (and their posse--the cable box, DVD player, VCR (if you still have one)
2. Cell phone chargers--when your phone isn't plugged into it
3. Cordless phones
4. Microwaves
5. Stoves
6. Digital clocks
7. Computers

5 Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Home

Recycling cans and newspapers helps to decrease the carbon footprint your daily living is leaving on the Earth, but it is no longer enough. It is time to go the extra mile to be eco-chic and help save Mother Earth. And it’s not as hard as it may seem either. A few easy steps on your part can reduce the carbon footprint that your home life leaves behind.

Water

Water is the most precious resource we have and is also the resource that we waste the most. We rinse our dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, run the shower to heat the water, and run the faucet while brushing our teeth. This is all good water that is wasted. Ways to reduce water usage are simple. If you have to run the water in the shower to heat the water, consider capturing the cold water in a bucket to water your plants or wash the kitchen floor later. Do not rinse your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher, and only run your dishwasher when it’s full. Turn the faucet off while you are brushing your teeth. Not only do these steps help to reduce water usage, but it can also save you money.

Furniture

Whether you are moving into a new home or just redecorating your current one, you can buy eco-friendly furniture to help the environment. Buying furniture made of sustainable and recycled materials is just one way to help. Also, consider recycling furniture by buying second-hand or reupholstering existing furniture instead of buying new.

Electricity

It may sound basic, but turn off lights, computers, TVs and other electrical items when you are not in the room or not using these items. Unplug them completely, if possible. If you’re replacing appliances or buying new ones, consider energy efficient ones that use less electricity—saving energy and money.

Lighting

Lighting is another energy waster. Change your conventional incandescent bulbs, which give off more heat than light, to compact florescent bulbs (CFLs) or LEDs—both use less energy and give off less heat. Turn lights off completely when nobody is in the room or natural light can be used. It saves energy, money and Mother Earth. It’s the eco-friendly way to light your life.

Laundry

We have to clean our clothes, but it takes a lot of energy to heat the water for the washing machine and air for the clothes dryer. According to Energy Star the average household does 400 loads of laundry per year—using 13,500 gallons of water. One way to reduce water usage and save energy is to buy an energy efficient washing machine—saving water and almost $550 per year. Also consider washing in cold water instead of hot or warm water. Next, consider cutting out using a clothes dryer—use a clothesline or drying rack instead. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it saves households about $70 per year and cuts out the usage of the second biggest energy wasting appliance in your home.