5 Tips for Eco-Minded Homeowners to Try This Spring
Spring is the perfect time to start making some eco-friendly changes around your home. As the temperatures continue to climb, you want to be absolutely sure that your house is going to be as efficient as possible in the coming months. Here are a few tips and tricks that you can use to reduce your home’s carbon footprint and lower your utility bills.
Clean without the Harsh Chemicals
Some of your favorite household cleaning supplies could be filled with toxic chemicals such as ammonia, formaldehyde, chlorine, and sodium hydroxide. Instead of bringing those toxins into your home, you should try making your own natural cleaners. Most surfaces can easily be cleaned with a combination of baking soda, white vinegar, and essential oils.
Swap out Your Old Light Bulbs
In the average home, around 20 percent of the electricity budget goes toward lighting. Luckily, many people are able to reduce that number simply by replacing older incandescent bulbs with CFL or LED bulbs. These newer bulbs are more efficient because almost all of the energy that goes into them is turned into light instead of heat. Replacing all of the bulbs in your home could potentially save you hundreds a year.
Start a Compost Pile
Most families throw out an incredible amount of food every week, and those scraps won’t do any good in a landfill. Starting your own compost pile is a great way to limit the amount of garbage that your home produces on a daily basis. Once the pile has been going for a few weeks, you can use the nutrient-rich compost to plant a garden or fertilize your lawn.
Take Care of Leaks and Drafts
Sealing up small holes and cracks is another simple way to make your home more efficient. These openings are generally found around doors and windows, but you should also inspect all of the vents and pipes leading out of your home. Most small cracks can be sealed with a caulking gun and a few tubes of all-purpose caulking.
Service Your HVAC System
During the hottest months of the year, your HVAC system will use a tremendous amount of energy. Replacing old air filters is a good start, but you should have the entire system serviced by a professional like HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric or someone similar as well. An HVAC contractor can quickly tune your air conditioner and carefully inspect the entire system for any efficiency issues. They can also help with eco-friendly upgrades such as installing a programmable thermostat.
Making your house more efficient is good for your wallet as well as the environment. Over time, these few tips and upgrades could end up saving you quite a bit of money.
