Easy Household Ways to Go Green

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

03 Apr 2009 10:45 AM

While new windows and electric cars are great ways to go green and take care of the environment, there are also a number of smaller but equally effective steps that you can take in your home to cut down on your impact to the environment.

Eliminate the paperwork

Paying your bills online and asking for electronic delivery of your bills and statements can reduce not only the paper itself, but the fuel consumption to deliver all of those bills, statements and checks.

Eliminate the vampire electronics

Many electronics consume power even when they are turned off or not being actively used. Your television, your cable box, your microwave and more, all suck up some power since they stay in ready mode or have other electronics that consume power while not being completely active.

Leaving your computer on all of the time is not the best idea for saving on power. If you do leave your computer on all of the time, at least use the power management settings to put it to sleep after a certain period of inactivity. By the way, having the screen go to sleep is not the same as having the computer go to sleep.

Ins and outs of CFLs

While CFLs can be great for saving energy, you must dispose of them properly, or you risk releasing mercury into the air, which is not good for you or the environment. Many places are set up to safely dispose CFLs. Ikea and Home Depot are two places where you can drop off your used CFLs.

Window film

If you haven't replaced your widows with energy-efficient double or triple paned windows, then install some film over them. In the winter, you can look for draft blocking plastic. In the summer, apply heat-control window film that will reduce the load on your air conditioning system.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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