What are some inexpensive tips to turn my house green?

Answer 1

When it comes to the environment, being a good global citizen starts at your doorstep. From recycling to using alternative cleaning materials, minor changes at home can add up to real benefits for the planet, not to mention your own health and happiness.

It may be a cliché, but the best way to be Earth-friendly is to cut down on what you consume and recycle whenever you can. The U.S. generates about 208 million tons of municipal solid waste a year, according to the National Institutes of Health. That's more than 4 pounds per person per day. Every little bit helps; recycling just one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.

Here are 10 more easy ways to green your home:

1. Green up your appliances. Getting rid of that old refrigerator in the garage could save you as much as $150 a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Appliance use comprises about 18% of a typical home’s total energy bill, with the fridge being one of the biggest energy hogs. If any of your appliances is more than 10 years old, the EPA suggests replacing them with energy-efficient models that bear their "Energy Star" logo. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard models. According to the Energy Star site, if just one in 10 homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.

Also, consider what you put in that energy-efficient refrigerator. Pesticides, transportation and packaging are all things to consider when stocking up. Buying local cuts down on the fossil fuels burned to get the food to you while organic foods are produced without potentially harmful pesticides and fertilizers.

2. Watch the temp. Almost half a home's energy consumption is due to heating and cooling.

Turn down the thermostat in cold weather and keep it higher in warm weather. Each degree below 68°F (20°C) during colder weather saves 3%-5% more heating energy, while keeping your thermostat at 78°F in warmer weather will save you energy and money. A programmable thermostat will make these temperature changes for you automatically.
Clean your furnace's air filter monthly during heavy usage.
Consider a new furnace. Today's furnaces are about 25% more efficient than they were in the 1980s. (And don't forget to check out furnaces carrying the Energy Star label.)
To keep your cool in warmer weather, shade your east and west windows and delay heat-generating activities such as dishwashing until evening.
Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioners. Light clothing in summer is typically comfortable between 72°F and 78°F. But moving air feels cooler, so a slow-moving fan easily can extend the comfort range to 82°F, according to "Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings" by Alex Wilson.
3. Save water. The Web site "Water -- Use it Wisely," created by a group of Arizona cities, lists 100 simple ways to save water. We’ll share just a few here:

Put an aerator on all household faucets and cut your annual water consumption by 50%.
Install a low-flow toilet. They use only 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to 3.5 gallons per flush for pre-1994 models. If you have an older model, adjust your float valve to admit less water into the toilet's tank.
Of course, you don't need products to save water -- behavioral changes also add up quickly: using a broom instead of the garden hose to clean your driveway can save 80 gallons of water and turning the water off when you brush your teeth will save 4.5 gallons each time.

4. Clean green. Stop buying household cleaners that are potentially toxic to both you and the environment. In his book, "The Safe Shopper's Bible," David Steinman suggests reading labels for specific, eco-friendly ingredients that also perform effectively. These include grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve, commonly found in carpet cleaner and some window cleaners as a solvent; coconut or other plant oils rather than petroleum in detergents; and plant-oil disinfectants such as eucalyptus, rosemary or sage rather than triclosan, an antifungal agent found in soaps and deodorant. Or, skip buying altogether and make your own cleaning products. Use simple ingredients such as plain soap, water, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), vinegar, washing soda (sodium carbonate), lemon juice and borax and save money at the same time. Check out these books by Annie Bertold-Bond for cleaning recipes: "Clean and Green" and "Better Basics for the Home."

5. Let there be energy-efficient light. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL can save $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.

6. Save a tree, use less paper. You can buy "tree-free" 100% post-consumer recycled paper for everything from greeting cards to toilet paper. Paper with a high post-consumer waste content uses less virgin pulp and keeps more waste paper out of landfills.


Other tips:

Remove yourself from junk mail lists. Each person will receive almost 560 pieces of junk mail this year, which adds up nationally to 4.5 million tons, according to the Native Forest Network. About 44% of all junk mail is thrown in the trash, unopened and unread, and ends up in a landfill. To stem the flow into your own home, contact the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service at P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512, or download the online form. Opt out of credit card or insurance offers at OptOutPrescreen.com or by calling 888-567-8688, a single automated phone line maintained by the major credit bureaus.
Buy unbleached paper. Many paper products, including some made from recycled fibers, are bleached with chlorine. The bleaching process can create harmful byproducts, including dioxins, which accumulate in our air, water and soil over time.
Finally, here's a third answer to the old "paper or plastic" question: No thanks. Carry your own cloth bags to the store to avoid using store bags.

7. Want hardwood floors? Opt for bamboo. Bamboo is considered an environmentally friendly flooring material due to its high yield and the relatively fast rate at which it replenishes itself. It takes just four to six years for bamboo to mature, compared to 50-100 years for typical hardwoods. Just be sure to look for sources that use formaldehyde-free glues.

8. Reduce plastics, reduce global warming. Each year, Americans throw away some 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags -- from grocery and trash bags to those ultra-convenient sandwich bags. Unfortunately, plastics are made from petroleum -- the processing and burning of which is considered one of the main contributors to global warming, according to the EPA. In addition, sending plastics to the landfill also increases greenhouse gases. Reduce, re-use and recycle your plastics for one of the best ways to combat global warming.

9. Use healthier paint. Conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause smog, ozone pollution and indoor air quality problems with negative health effects, according to the EPA. These unhealthy ingredients are released into the air while you’re painting, while the paint dries and even after the paints are completely dry. Opt instead for zero- or low-VOC paint, made by most major paint manufacturers today.

10. Garden green. First, use compost instead of synthetic fertilizers. Compost provides a full complement of soil organisms and the balance of nutrients needed to maintain the soil’s well-being without the chemicals of synthetic fertilizers. And healthy soil minimizes weeds and is key to producing healthy plants, which in turn can prevent many pest problems from developing to begin with.

Use native plants as much as possible. Native plants have adapted over time to the local environment and support native animals. They also use less water and require less of your attention.
Focus on perennials. Gardening with plants that live for more than one year means you don't have to pay for new plants every year; it also saves the resources used commercially to grow annuals.
Stop using chemical pesticides. American households use 80 million pounds of pesticides each year, according to the EPA. These toxic chemicals escape gardens and concentrate in the environment, posing threats to animals and people, especially children. A better alternative is to try a variety of organic and physical pest control methods, such as using diatomaceous earth to kill insects, pouring boiling water on weeds or using beer to bait slugs. You can find more non-chemical pest control tips at the National Audubon Society's site.
Finally, consider using an old-fashioned push mower. The only energy expended is yours.

hope that helps =)

Answer 2

For the last three years I have been remodeling a home that was built in the late 1800's. Keeping the old world craftsmanship was just as important as seizing the opportunity to create a greener home. A couple of "green" things that I did that made an immediate inexpensive difference were;

1) I added a small bathroom sized trash can under my kitchen sink to collect any cans, bottles, or other recyclables. When ever I take out the kitchen trash I take out the recyclables to their bin outside.

2) Changing the lights you use can make a great difference. I purchased some of those new low wattage curly lights from Costco ( you can get them at any hardware store too). I changed all the lights in my house with these and have saved more than half on my electric bill for the year. The lights cost about the same as a regular incandescent light.

3) Plant a shade tree! I love trees, they can be romantic, they can fill a void in a large area, they can accent a small courtyard, and they can add much needed shade outside a sunny window or room to help insulate from the sun. There are several trees that are resistant to drought should you live in an area that receives little rain.

I hope these three simple and inexpensive tips can help someone, even if it's just inspires another idea or tip!

Answer 3

1) Replace all light bulbs with incandescents.
2) Turn off the light when you're not using it.
3) Clean your filters regularly.
4) Cut down on the number of appliances and TVsplugged in within the house (every appliance plugged in will use some electricity even when it's not turned on).
5) Grow some flowers in the house to offset the carbon dioxide emitted from your body (this also makes the house more comfortable to live in).
6) Raise the temperature in the house by two degreees in the summer, and lower it by two degrees in the winter.
7) Don't turn the air conditioner on when opening the windows and running the fan can do the same job.
8) Wash your dishes by hand when you don't have a full load, instead of sending them through the dishwasher.
9) Don't wash only half a load of laundry. And while you're at it, only use enivronmentally friendly detergents and fabric softeners.
10) Dry your laundry on a clothes line whenever possible.
11) Turn the water heater temperature down, especially when you're not using it.
12) If you're replacing anything in the house, spend the extra bucks to get an energy efficient model.

Answer 4

You have to be more specific , you mean green like the color green or green like environmental green? Also, it depends on what you think "inexpensive" is. (for a celebritie I'll say $50,000 . Right?)
Anyways:
1. Get fluorescent light bulbs.
2. Use less water.
3. Turn lights off when not in use.
4. Get a push mower.
5. Use less electricity.
6. Look for Energy Star labels on electric appliances to save power.
I have a lot more but they don't have to do with home and they aren't as inexpensive:
7. Drive less.
8. Get solar panels.
9. Get a Hybrid.
And 10: That's all I remember. : )
For the other kind of green think you should get a new house that is green.

Answer 5

How do you "use" your house? Place to sleep or business meeting place or entertaining friends or occassional home?

Take a look at the "things" drawing energy in your house when you are not there - electric digital clocks, computers, tvs, etc... Could some of these be disabled if you are out for an extended period of time?

I'm not as keen as others to go out and buy more stuff. Yes appliances are big energy users but who uses their stove all day, every day? And why even consider replacing flooring if there is nothing wrong with what you have...

Use less paper products (your own cup at Starbucks versus their paper ones...); use lights appropriately throughout the house (turn off nightlights in unused rooms, use 3-way bulbs on lowest wattage if possible).

Going green shouldn't mean spend more money on more stuff. Perhaps some of your previous purchases weren't enviro-friendly. Just being aware now makes a huge difference on your choices. It should also influence which stores/companies you support....

Answer 6

Everyone has probably advised you about insulation. Use on-demand hot water heaters, like Rinnai. Use passive solar panels to heat water for warming the house or for laundry use. Use an active solar system to run a steam boiler to power a steam engine to generate electricity or use biofuel to power it. Build an earth-sheltered house, the earth insulates. Better yet build an underground house. Use fiber optics to bring sunlight into each room. Cool the house by pumping water through a network of buried pipes and use the cooler underground temperatures. If in a cold area you could also extract heat from the underground network of pipes. Use an entry room as an airlock to prevent losing heat/cool to the outside. Use automatic switches on interior lights so that if someone enters the room the lights come on and will stay on until everyone has left, then turn off. The same with heating and cooling each room.

I hope these few thoughts will help and you will let everyone know how you actually make the house green. Inexpensive is relative to the amount of money you are able to spend, some of these are easily adaptable to any house, some would require extensive modification or digging and some require building a new structure to embody all of them.

Answer 7

First - there are very few 'easy and inexpensive' ways to go green. You have to be committed and willing to do this for your own sake.

Compact Flourescent lights contain trace amounts of mercury. Most states would require a special crew to clean up a broken CFL. Incandescent lights don't have this problem. And they're less expensive.
My recommendation - do as your mother told you. Turn on only those lights you absolutely need and turn them off when you're done. Cheap and easy.

Appliances - get those that get the 'most mileage' out of electricity. All appliances in the U.S. now come with 'Energy Star' ratings (or at least those I look at).

Solar panels - invest in these and windmills if your local municipalities allow this and will allow zoning for this. Some people think I'm joking - I'm not. Not cheap but the most renewable sources we have access to - anywhere in the world.

Automobiles - walk, carpool or ride a bicycle. If you have to buy and drive an automobile, I suggest a 'veggie-mobile'. Any auto that uses diesel can be converted to run recycled vegetable oil as well. This vegetable oil can be purchased 'new' or recycled from your local fast-food restaurants, with a little forethought and pre-arrangement. You'll still need diesel to get the car started and warmed up, but this can then be switched over to the veggie-fuel.

Heat - Electricity is the cleanest burning. However, for smaller houses or rooms, consider a fireplace. Wood is a renewable resource and despite what you may think, causes less carbon output then a power plant that produces electricity from coal or oil-based fuels. Or, if you have solar panels or electricity-generating windmills, stick with electric heat.

Answer 8

the most inexpensive way to turn it green is keep the temperature close what it is outside. If what you mean by green as in plants well just buy some little inside ferns from Wal-mart and some inside pot vines that dont grow very big. Make sure that you keep them under control and dont over due the plants and some diffrent light bulbs will help.

If you mean green and in the color green, then this is what you should do:

again buy diffrent lightbulbs that are this time green ( but a light tent of green)

with your couches and funiture like that maybe get some nice green couch covers that fit them well. Im sure you can find some at Sears,Dillards,and Macys.You can even do that with our pillows and if you are ok at sewing just buy some fabric at and inexpensive sewing and craft store.( possible Wal-mart)

Even later you can do the obvious paint your walls diffrent shades of green through out the house.

And later if you want to spend just a little more money later down the road you can even change the carpet.

Here is a GOOD tip for this: Get sheets that you have around the house(that arent too old and blah) and get diffrent( inexpensive) curtain rods and drape the sheets on top to make it look like curtains down. My friend did it and I really didnt even know they were sheets!!!!


hope this helps

Answer 9

Most of the answers here are great:

Top 5:

1. Energy Wise Light Bulbs, use fluorescent where you can, and in other places use the lowest wattage that will get the job done. When possible, use the lights with fluorescent bulbs instead of the ones that require regular bulbs. Some Fluorescent bulbs are “instant on” and will work better for hallways and areas where you need light “right now” when the switch is turned on. Look for these and use them where needed.

2. Set back your thermostat.

3. Energy Wise appliances – don’t go out and buy new just to save energy, but when you do, select ones that are most efficient.

4. Don’t throw away aluminum cans – this is probably the most important item to recycle.

5. Plants – Inside or out, they all help. Let your grass grow a bit longer, mow it less often.


Here are some other tips outside the home:

1. If you drive a car that has fog lights on it, turn them off except when it is foggy! Too many idiots drive around with them on all the time. It is burning two 50+ watt light bulbs for no reason. This creates extra load on the engine and wastes fuel. It may not be much, but every little bit helps, and it doesn't cost anything. No need to have 4 high wattage lamps lit during the daylight hours. Headlamps by themselves at night are just fine most of the time

2. Drive Slower – It is hard in LA where everyone wants to be there yesterday, but it really does save a lot of fuel on the freeway – even if you go 5 mph over the speed limit instead of 10mph (this applies to those living in So. Cal. – you know who you are!)

3. Recycle when you aren’t at home – don’t throw that aluminum can in the garbage just because you can’t find a recycle bin – take it home and recycle it!

Answer 10

Assuming it is an existing home, rather than new construction:
1) Flourescent light bulbs-use less energy
2) Add insulation if necessary to reduce heating and air conditioning costs
3) Have a professional do an energy audit
4) Use an efficient HVAC system such as geothermal (ground source heat pump)
5) Install a cistern to catch rainwater which can then be used for watering grass, plants, flowers, etc.
6) Plant deciduous trees around the home. In the winter, the light can get through to heat the home. In the summer, the shade from the leaves helps keep the home cool.

This is just a list of starter suggestions, but some very important ones.

Answer 11

house plants, plant a tree. really inexpensive would be to buy a packet of seeds. like 50 cents for a packet of seeds.

get the flourescent light bulbs.

pack your dishwasher differently. if you take some time to re-arrange things, then that will make more room and save water and energy.

put a bottle of soda in the toilet tank. Fill a plastic, quart-sized milk container with water and put it in your pre-1994 toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanism. The jug can displace 10 gallons or more of water a day. We do not recommend you use a brick to displace the water. Bricks eventually disintegrate in water and can jam plumbing lines. Also be careful not to place the bottles where they will jam the flushing mechanism, and make sure you don’t displace so much water that you have to double-flush. Double flushing wastes more water than you would save.

get rid of aerosol cans and replace them with regular spray cans. if you look around the stores, you can most likely find the spray version of the aerosol can.

dry your clothes by hanging them on a clothes line instead of a dryer.

go swimming or open up some windows instead of using the air-conditioning.

clothes the blinds if it is too hot.



i know it is a lot, but they are small changes and you can start gradually. good luck!! more people should be changing to go green.