10 ways to Make your space Green(er)

Ayanna George
by Ayanna George
Making a house more energy efficient.
*Options I considered for this project:
Changing items within my home in order to save energy.
*Questions and unexpected events that arose during the project:
Purchasing all new appliances can become costly and other means are needed at this moment.
* Cost Comments:
Cost of changing light bulbs.
*My motivation to do this project:
To lower my electrical bill- by any means possible!!
*Project Steps:
I read an article in local free news paper and researched online different ways to save money and reduce my electrica useage.
Advice:
Do's:
1. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs. Change lamps, ceiling fixtures or sconces light bulbs through-out the entire house. Leave no light un-changed!!! This change alone will reduce your energy consumption. Also, I found that using table lamps vs. ceiling mounted lights use less energy.
2. When buying new electrionics, appliances, accessories and basicly anything with a plug. Do your research on the energy wattage required and purchase Energy Star models.
3. Cover your windows. No matter summer or winter, window treatments provide installation for room. Most air tempture is lost within a room at its windows.
4. Insulation with accessories- Hang wall tapestries. High vaulted ceilings or lofts often have a cold draft, using tapestries, blankets or quilts can provide more insulation to the room.
5. Buy Surge Protectors- Multiplug surge protector are worth their weight in gold. Not only do they prevent computers from lighting damage it also allows multiple plugs to be pluged in and only one unplug source. Which brings me to
6. Unplug- Unplug - Unplug. If you are not using it- unplug it. Microwaves, vcrs/ dvd/ blue ray what ever unplug it. Now more homes have wii games, computers, dvd players on top of all the other everyday appliances like coffee makers and can openers. New Rule- Unplug IT!
7. If you live in a home and have gutters, use them to collect water for watering plants or your lawn.
8. Selecting the Right time- Electric companies charge more money for usage during "peek" hours or times of year. Hot times of summer June- Sept. and cold months of Dec. - March. Along with times of day when most factories are opporating 6am to 5pm. If you wash clothes, run your dish washer or decide to bake a cake during the "Peak Seasons" try to run the electricity during the evening times when the rates are lower.
9. Get back to family time. Most homes have more than 3 televisions and when the entire family is home all televisions may be on different channels or same channel but different rooms. I am tring to get back to the times when families fought over what to watch on tv because there was only one good tv in the house. When families watch television together it promotes memories that will are priceless. My son and I enjoy Tuesday nights because that the night we watch Wipe Out and other funny television shows together.
10. Invest in blankets, throws and good sheets. Snuggling up is great no matter the season. Making sure you have great sheets in the summer time will help you sleep with the windows up in those "Hot-Lanta" nights. Having multiple comfortors, blankets and throws will keep you warm in the cold Georgia nights.
Tapestries .help insulate
Surge protector
Energy Star Label to look for
Frequently asked questions
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  • EcoTransitions EcoTransitions on Feb 04, 2011
    Invest in WaterSense labeled, High Efficiency Toilets - not only will you reduce your water usage, you will save money on your water bill. If you opt for a Dual Flush toilet, you can save about 40% compared to a standard 1.6 gpf model.
  • Achyhart Achyhart on Nov 01, 2013
    My friend just moved into a high rise apartment building and they had just put in those double flush toilets into each apartment. She told me there are two buttons on top of the tank~ one is a halfmoon shasp and that you use just when you pee and the other is a fullmoon and that one is when you do both. It uses less water when you pee and about twice the amount when you do 'both functions'. I read on one of my 'Go green' pages that those energy-efficient light bulbs are bad for you. They emit some kind of energy that has some kind of effect on your skin or eyes. I would check into it before I put it all through your home.
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