From Guest Blogger Anita Ginsberg: How You Can Stay Green at Home and Waste Less

To solve the problems of climate change and harmful pollution, everyone needs to do their part to contribute, and that includes homeowners. Below are several great tips you can use to stay green at home and waste less.

Program Your Thermostat

One simple way to make your own home greener is by programming your thermostat. There are probably times during the day when everyone is either at work or school. You don’t need to be running your heat and air conditioning so much when this is the case. Simply program your thermostat to lower or raise the temperature when no one is home so you aren’t wasting so much energy.

Recycle

Recycling may seem like an obvious choice, yet still many people simply don’t recycle. Thankfully, these days, recycling is quite easy. If you have your trash picked up at the curb in front of your home, you can do the same with your recyclables. If you have extra waste from something like a home remodeling project, companies such as King Recycling & Waste Disposal Inc. can pick up the trash and sort out what is recyclable for you.

Unplug Your Electronics

Many people don’t know this, but appliances are still using electricity even when they’re switched off. Having them plugged in is what establishes the electric current, not the on and off switch. With this in mind, make sure appliances are not plugged in when they are not in use. This is especially the case for electronics that require lots of electricity such as computers and high-definition televisions.

Collect Rain Water

One resource that gets wasted in plenty of homes is water. This can also exacerbate problems in areas that are experiencing a drought. If this is the case, one thing you can do to is collect rain water for your own use. Simply place a bucket, barrel or other container outside before a coming rain. You can then use the water collected for chores such as watering your flowers and household plants.

Install New Windows and Doors

Many houses may have windows and doors that are decades old. If this is the case, they may have an energy inefficient design. This may mean that a good deal of warm air is allowed to escape from these windows and doors during the winter. Heat may also be able to seep inside during the summer. This could lead to higher energy bills. To fix this, have more energy-efficient choices professionally installed.

Overall, you’re going to have to do a little bit of work to make your home greener. However, that hard work will pay off in the form of a more energy-efficient and carbon-neutral home.