Happy Earth Day! Itās an important time to support environmental protections across the globe. What better way to celebrate than to upgrade your home to be green!
Going green doesnāt necessarily mean spending thousands of dollars on fancy solar panels or on an electric car. By making small changes and adding some new habits, you can shrink your homeās carbon footprint considerably.
So, whether itās switching to energy-efficient light bulbs or making your lawn bee-friendly, going green can be good for the environment and put more green in your pocketbook!
Here are tips for making your home more energy efficient:
Do an Energy Audit
Ready to make your home green but not sure where to start? Many companies offer energy audits. They assess your home, analyze how you use energy, and offer suggestions that help make it more efficient and save money on your monthly bills.
Make Your Yard Bee-Friendly! š
Bees are an important part of our ecosystem but have been disappearing rapidly across the country. You can help our fuzzy black and yellow friends by making your lawn and gardens bee-friendly. Planting a variety of natural native plants or flowers can transform your yard into a bee oasis. Bees are also attracted to water sources, so putting in a small fountain or pond will have them buzzing with happiness (Tip: Avoid creating a mosquito hatchery by keeping the water source constantly moving with a circulation pump).
Switch to Energy-efficient light bulbs
Switching out incandescent light bulbs for more energy-efficient models can really curb carbon emissions. Plus, they last 10 - 25% longer and save you money. To get started, choose five frequently used bulbs and replace them with LED bulbs.
Update Your Windows
A Minnesotan's worst nightmare is waking up on a winter morning to a cold house. Drafty windows are often a big culprit for loss of heat - or cool air in the summertime. Make your home greener by updating your windows. Then not only will your home stay in a comfortable temperature zone, it will be more energy efficient, and cut down on heating and cooling bills.
Install Energy-Efficient Appliances
Looking to update your appliances? Look for the energy-efficient models. They use 10-50% less energy and will help lower your monthly utility bills. Plus, there are often tax credits available.
Check out even more tips for going green.