Eco friendly living tips


Norma Lehmeier Hartie
Norma's Award Winning Book! Click to Enlarge 0 Read Introduction 0 Table of Contents 0 Order Your Copy! Events Media & Reviews Articles Buy Book! 0 Autographed 0 Free Shipping	Expert in Creating Green and Balanced Spaces

	Eco-Friendly Living Tips Along with cleaning, organizing and removing clutter, living an eco-friendly lifestyle is the basis to creating a harmonious environment. Even simple steps will not only reduce the causes of global warming and pollution, but will save money and create a healthier home environment. Heat and cool your home conservatively Lower heat during heating months and dress warmer for comfort. Adjust thermostats to cooler when sleeping or when occupants are away or use programmable thermostats. For every two degrees you lower thermostat, you save 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. In warm months, open windows and use fans before you switch on the air conditioner. Reduce hot water usage Hot water heater should be no higher than 120 degrees Opt for shorter showers and showers over baths Use energy efficient lighting Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s) last approximately 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. One fifth of all electricity is used for lighting. Regular bulbs waste 90% of their output on heat. Replacing just three frequently used incandescent bulbs with CFL’s will save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and save $60 on electricity. Select energy efficient appliances that are rated with “Energy Star” label and properly maintain appliances. When replacing major appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines, choosing Energy Star rated appliances saves you money because less resources are used to run the appliances. Smarter transportation Drive an energy-efficient car Drive less Turn off (not just standby) appliances that are not in use. A surge protector or power strip will make this an easy task when numerous appliances are in one area. Add insulation to basement and attic if needed. Install energy efficient windows Use cloth bags when shopping Both plastic and paper bags are wasteful and use energy to make (and plastic uses petrochemicals and is not biodegradable.) Purchase products that will last a lifetime All products take energy to manufacture. Select the best you can afford and keep cheaply made products out of landfill. If you cannot afford quality pieces, show at second-hand stores or check out www.freecycle.org where everything is free. Reupholster worn furniture Compost food scraps and brown matter like leaves · In landfill, biodegradable products get compressed and emit methane. · Compost feeds your plants for healthy and vibrant specimens. Use refillable water bottles Disposable water bottles waste energy in manufacturing and distribution and clog our landfills. They also leech harmful chemicals into the water. Test your home water and use filters if necessary. Purchase stainless or neoprene bottles; they not only do not leech chemicals, the water tastes great in them! RRR (reduce, recycle, reuse) Recycle your garbage Use recycled products like paper Donate or sell goods that Purchase goods locally, support your community and save on the fuel require to transport goods. Paint milk, natural or organic, synthetic water based ;pw-voc, zero or no-voc synthetic solvent based high voc One ton of traditional paint=30 tons of hazardous, nonbiodegradable watse Fabric Avoid pesticide laden and man made petrochemical based fabrics. Opt for natural hemp, cotton, linen that are free from pesticides, stain guards, and fire retardants Flooring Select natural materials like wood (from sustainable sources,) stone, bamboo, marble and slate Avoid composite and engineered flooring, plastic sheets, particle board and plywood Switch to green power Some utility companies allow you to select an energy source from renewable resources like the sun or wind instead of fossil fuels. Install solar panels Install a geothermal pump Take advantage of passive solar energy from south-facing windows Install a wind turbine Use non toxic products—safer for you and the environment. This includes everything from household cleaners to personal care products to chemicals used for lawn and pest control.


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