Earth Day is celebrated in more than 190 countries and has helped citizens all over the world take notice of various environmental issues. From planting trees to recycling to looking at your home’s energy efficiency, Earth Day is a time to remember that we need to take care of our only home, the earth.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
You can reduce energy loss in your home by up to 10 percent by sealing window and door drafts with caulking and weather stripping. It also pays to turn off electronic devices like video game consoles, cable boxes, laptops and cell phone chargers when not in use.
Be smarter about how and when you use your major appliances. Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when you have a full load, and consider hanging your clothes to dry rather than using the dryer. In addition, you can save more on your bills by washing your laundry in cold water whenever possible, setting your machine to the shortest wash time and skipping the extra rinse cycle.
Program an electric thermostat to raise the temperature in your home while you are at work. This helps to avoid using energy when you don’t need it. You can also keep your cooling costs down by closing your blinds and curtains during the day to block heat coming through your windows.
Schedule a home energy audit, which is an inspection of your home that will tell you where you are possibly losing money and energy. During the audit, a trained professional will inspect for leaks in windows, check to see if the furnace is working properly and examine the home’s duct work.
