In this day and age, green living has become more
than chic… it’s essential. So, we at Green
Home Improvement have compiled a few ideas to get those
green juices flowing. Oh, and it'll save you money, too!
· Recycle Craftily: Reuse anything that's got a little spark left in it. Wallpaper, for example, makes for awesome lightswitch covers and textbook protectors. Old window frames can be turned into creative swinging yard gates in the backyard.
· Reduce Your Energy Use: This can be as simple as leaving the lid on a saucepan during cooking, using the crock pot or only preheating an oven when it's necessary (for cookies, for example). Anything that cuts down on the amount of heat escaping is a step in the right direction. If the weather’s nice, grill!
· Alternative Hot Water Heaters: Skip the tank and go tankless. Or, consider a solar hot water heater. Either way, the energy used is less than heating (and keeping hot) a fifty-gallon tank.
And the best one
of all:
. You don't even have to go solar to do it, either. Home values increase with energy audits that help you conserve energy (and money), efficient gas-burning appliances and on-demand hot water heaters. Also, don't overlook those electricity hogs continuously plugged into your outlets. All of these things may earn you taxes thanks to energy efficiency rebates. It's a win-win.