5 Ways to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

Compact Fluorescent Lights
Not only do CFL bulbs provide a whiter, cleaner light, they actually use up to 70% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. In addition, just replacing your most used lights in your home (think the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms) can save you hundreds of dollars on your utilities bill every year.

Programmable Thermostat
Why pay to heat or cool your house while no one is there? If you haven't done so already, consider installing a programmable thermostat allowing you to program the temperature inside your home during set times of the day. Turn the thermostat back when you are not home or sleeping - a few degrees up in the summer and a few degrees down in the winter. You won't notice a difference in the temperature but you'll see substantial savings on your heating and cooling bill.

Purchase Energy-Star
Appliances and products that are Energy-Star approved mean they have meet strict efficiency standards set by the government (Energy-Star is a joint program between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Such products can save you money since they require less energy to operate and help protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Add Greenery
Planting trees, bushes, and other shrubs near your home can actually help reduce your cooling and heating costs. How? They provide shade in the summer and insulation in the winter. Not to mention they will provide beautiful greenery for your landscaped yard.

Slow the Flow
Installing low-flow showerheads and faucets (Grohe faucets have some great options) allow you to use less water without sacrificing water pressure (who wants to bathe in a trickle?). They may be more than traditional ones initially but you will quickly make up the difference once you see the difference in your water bill. In fact, slow-flow faucets and showerheads can save a family of four more than $300 a year on their water bill.

Autor: Kat Haverton

http://www.buyplumbing.net

Added: August 18, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/