The greenest season of all calls for an evaluation of the environmental impact of your daily habits both inside your home and out. Making the active choice to implement eco-friendly practices and technology at home will not only save you money and conserve energy, it will help you and your family appreciate all the joys spring has to offer that much more.
Green Clean
Before you pull out the chemical sprays and solution for a little bit of spring cleaning, consider the impact store bought cleaners can have on the environment. Chemicals found in common household cleaning products frequently find their way into rivers and streams and can pollute the water supply.
It’s simple to make homemade cleaning supplies that are just as effective as their less eco-friendly counterparts. A quick look in the pantry will give you everything you need to whip up your own cleaning solution:
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ½ a lemon
- 4 cups hot water
Combine ingredients and stir until baking soda dissolves. Add to spray bottle and use to clean everything from the kitchen counters to your garden and garage custom tarps.
Laundry List
One of the main culprits of household energy and water waste is washing machines and dryers. And seeing as how doing laundry is an unavoidable chore, it’s important to consider more earth friendly options when it comes to cleaning clothes.
A huge amount of energy goes into heating your washer’s water. Using only cold water cycles makes a significant impact on energy usage, and also helps to keep the color of your clothes vibrant. When it comes time to dry, consider using an old-fashioned dryer line in your backyard next – just keep your sectional covers and tarps covering anything that might get damaged by the dripping water.
LED for You & Me
Usage of LED lightbulbs has exploded in popularity in recent years. These innovative bulbs provide powerful light at a rate that is up to 90% more energy efficient than that of traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs also last significantly longer than their old school counterparts, saving you money in the long run.
Take the time to add LED bulbs to every lighting fixture both inside your home and out. LED light strips are a breeze to install and can be used to add ambiance as well as draw attention to the standout details of your backyard like your custom cushion covers.
Consider using strong LED lighting to power the lighting in your backyard and work areas like sheds. When working with your wide array of tools you’ll want ample lighting for both safety and practicality.
Draw the Shades
An often overlooked cause of energy loss is through windows. Bare windows can lead to excess heat in your home, which results in higher energy usage and power bills as your air conditioner works overtime. This is especially pertinent in the warmer spring months and the heat of summer that lies ahead.
The solution to this quagmire is simple: keeping your windows covered with curtains or drapes allows you to control the amount of natural light that enters your home. Keeping living spaces cool also applies to your backyard living area as well, where you can use outdoor vinyl curtains to keep your patio shaded and eliminate the need for electric fans.
Energetic Efficiency
Sometimes doing your part for the environment is as simple as switching off the lights. Cutting down on electricity usage seems like an obvious solution to reducing your environmental footprint, but there are many instances where cutting off the power may slip your mind.
Sit down with your family for a discussion on how to make saving electricity around the home a daily habit. Practices like utilizing natural light instead of lamps throughout the day, turning off the AC or heat when leaving the house, purchasing an attic fan that uses far less energy to cool the home, and unplugging chargers and appliances when not in use are easy to adopt and will make a world of environmental difference.
Solar Simple
What was once an out-of-reach technology for many homeowners can now be found in any given neighborhood across the country. Solar panels can now be found at many home improvement stores and can even be installed without professional help (but an electrician will still need to stop by for house hookups).
Installing solar panels at the start of spring ensures that you’ll be able to reap the benefits of eco-friendly energy and save a good bit on your power bills. Some areas even offer financial incentives and rebates for households that make the switch to solar.
Irrigation Station
Properly maintaining your backyard’s irrigation system without wasting water can be a difficult balance to strike. With some creative thinking and ingenuity, however, you’ll be able to keep your grass hydrated while saving the precious natural resource that is water.
Landscaping experts recommend running your sprinkler system early in the morning, when the air is cooler and water is less likely to evaporate before reaching your grass. And instead of using the sprinkler on a daily basis, switch to a three times a week schedule and turn it off on rainy days. And don’t forget to cover any backyard furniture or accessories with tarps or sectional covers to keep them dry and prevent water damage. This prolongs their lifespan and lessens the amount of waste going into a garbage dump.
Recent Comments