by Karen Chamchuk

Created on: July 20, 2009   Last Updated: August 07, 2010

Sometimes it feels like we are powerless to significantly reduce the amount of energy we use in our homes. Fortunately, there are a number of changes you can make to your home to make it more environmentally friendly.

Windows, Doors and Attics

One major way to increase your savings on your heating bill and protect the environment at the same time is to decrease the heat loss from your windows and your doors. You can cover your entire windows with a thin plastic film that looks much like saran wrap. This plastic film can dramatically reduce heat loss from your windows and it is very inexpensive to buy.

A more expensive way to cut down on window heat loss is to purchase windows with multiple panes. The more window panes you have on a window, the less heat loss you will have. Using close fitting venetian blinds will also reduce heat loss from your windows.

It is also important to ensure that all doors have tight seals around them to prevent heat loss. Also, make sure your attic is well-insulated. 

The Bathroom

There are a variety of changes that can be made to the plumbing and fixtures to help make your bathroom more environmentally friendly. First of all, make sure your shower is fitted with a low flow shower head so that you use less water every time you shower. In addition, to using a low-flow shower head, you can establish a rule that all showers must be under five minutes long.

Second, make sure any and all leaking faucets are fixed. Also, you can save a significant amount of water by installing a low-flow toilet. Further, you can use grey water from your tub to water your lawn and flowers.

Appliances

Exchanging your refrigerator for a more energy-efficient one is a great way to dramatically reduce your electricity bill. Since the fridge is the most often-used appliance in the average home, it would make sense that exchanging it for one that runs on less electricity would translate into huge savings.

Switching to a more energy efficient stove and microwave will also reduce your electricity consumption. A smart trick on using less energy with your current fridge is to allow the food to cool down before putting it in the fridge thus reducing the stress load on your fridge's cooling capacity.

Furnaces

Replacing your furnace with one that is more efficient is a great way to make your home more environmentally friendly.

Recycling

Make your home recycling-friendly by keeping your blue box or blue bag in an easily accessible location. The kitchen is generally a good location because most of the materials that you recycle come from the kitchen. Start by recycling all of your tin cans and try to remember to remove the paper label from the outside before recycling them. Also, you can recycle all of your milk cartons by simply rinsing them out first. Recycle all of your newspapers and junk mail on a regular basis to keep them from piling up. Also. recycle all of your plastic containers.

In conclusion, it is obvious that there are many different ways to make your home more environmentally friendly. Start out with making one change and build from there.

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