What are some easy ways to save energy and make my house more eco-friendly?

Answer 1

Assuming by easy ways, you mean ways that are going to cost much money.
weather striping around the windows and doors:
Replace lights as they burn out with compact flourscent lights that screw into regular light sockets. So you don't have to buy fixtures.
When constantly leaving and entering a room don't be turning lights off and on everytime you enter and leave. Takes more energy than leaving them on.
Don't use lights unless you need them. If it is bright enough in room (from outside sun light) don't turn lights on leave them off.
Adjust your thermostat to 68 in the winter and 78 in summer. Turn heat down at heat at night (sleep under blankets or electric blankets)
In summer when temperature cools off at night turn AC off and open windows if you have screens on windows.
If not home for a while like at work in winter turn thermostat down to 65 or 69. In summer turn up to 82 or 85.
In summer use kitchen vent fan to exhaust hot air so AC doesn't have to work too hard.
Don't run clothes any more than necessary. No washing and drying one set of clothes at a time. Wait until you have a full load before washing and drying clothes.
Hand wash dishes instead if using dish washer.
When not going to be in a room for a while turn lights off.
When not watching turn TV off.
Use products made of recycled material.
Separate your trash into things that can be recycled and things that can't. Take things that can be recycled to recycling collections sites.
Use cloth towels (towels you can wash and reuse) instead of paper towels.
When not using computer turn it off instead of leaving it on stand by.
Put porch lights on motion sensors instead of leaving them on all the time.
If toilet is not a water saver put brick in tank so it will take less water to fill.(use less water per flush)
When you have to change shower head purchase water saver shower head.

Those are just a few of the common sense ways you can save on energy and make your house eco-friendly without it costing you an arm and leg. Most of them cost little or nothing.

Answer 2

Lots of easy ways to make your house more eco-friendly and energy efficienty... (from easiest to hardest):

- Change your lightbulbs to Compact Flourescents (they come in all shapes, sizes and colors!)-- turn off the lights when you're not using them too!
- Get a programmable thermostat, so you don't always have to remember to turn the heat down or the A/C off
- Use cold/warm water when washing clothes instead of hot water
- Use non-toxic cleaning materials
- Recyle! Even better: use LESS
- Bring a cloth bag or two or three when grocery shopping (who needs the waste of more paper/plastic bags?!)-- while you're at it, WALK to the grocery store instead of driving
- Weather- proof your house-- if you can't afford new insulation, there are ways to line your windows and seal the cracks that make your house drafty.
- Wrap your water heater/ furnace so it doesn't lose heat
- Buy energy efficient appliances- EnergyStar appliances may be a bit more expensive up front but save you lots in the long run

hope that helps!

Answer 3

Start by recycling, and making a compost pile in your backyard. When you plant flowers, or plants, you plant them, then put about an inch of compost on top, and then it will grow faster, and eco-friendly. Remember to turn off lights, Tv's ,radios, and unplug things that you are not using, or you can plug in really easily. We all need to help our earth!

Answer 4

You've got some great ideas already, but I wanted to add that a major idea in the solar energy field has surfaced that will break it wide open. The major obstacle to wide-spread adoption of solar has been the high cost of the panels. But I know of a company that will rent the panels to a homeowner with no upfront investment. I think this idea could make solar easily available to about 50% of the homes in the US. If you want more info about this company email me: [e-mail]

Answer 5

you could ride your bike to place more in stead of driving. change you regular litebulbs to energy star lightbulbs. Energy star also aproves some windows and apliences. you could also use a little less heat this winter just turning it down 2 to 5 degrees can help

Answer 6

More insulation
Double paned windows
Compact fluorescent lights
Turn down the heater
Turn off the A/C
Recycle

Answer 7

Go vegetarian. This will make a huge impact in helping the earth.

Answer 8

Install low water flow showerheads, lower your thermostat, don't use so much paper towels or napkins.

Answer 9

geothermal energy system on the roof...solar power is good, but not perfected yet.

Answer 10

Well, plants trees or plants is a wise way.