If you’re looking to have a more environmentally-friendly home, a few (mostly) simple changes throughout the house can make a big difference on the amount of energy and water used, as well as the indoor air quality of your abode. As an added bonus, you’ll likely see a decrease in the amount you owe in your monthly utility bills.
Kitchen –
- Efficient appliances - ENERGY STAR appliances are third-party rated for energy efficiency and quality. Refrigerators that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation are about 9 percent more energy-efficient than models that meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard. If you’re not in the market for new appliances, make sure to perform necessary maintenance on your appliances to keep them running as efficiently as possible.
- Cleaning supplies - When looking for eco-cleaning products, the Safer Choice label is regulated by the EPA. Strict requirements ensure products with the Safer Choice label are made with safer chemical ingredients, without giving up any quality or performance. Read more on eco-labels and what they mean here. Look for products that are low in VOCs, biodegradable, low toxicity, and feature a minimal amount of chemicals when possible. We love Rejuvenate Natural floor cleaners and Seventh Generation for their eco-friendly cleaning attributes.
- Dishwasher – First, you should always wait to run a full load. Technology has come a long way in making our lives easier, including reducing the need to pre-rinse dishes. You will want to remove large food debris, but most modern dishwashers have sensors that regulate water usage based on debris level. Using the dryer feature on your dishwasher is also an energy hog, so just crack the door open a bit or look for a dishwasher with an autorelease door that automatically pops open when the cycle is completed.
- Exhaust fan – It’s probably one of the least thought about kitchen appliances. But we’re learning that exhaust fans can have a more significant role in your home’s health than originally thought. Recirculating air can lead to indoor air quality issues, especially if you have a gas stovetop which can dump toxic carbon monoxide in the air. Fans should always vent out to the exterior rather than recirculating, and when possible, avoid relying on an over-the-stove microwave with a built-in exhaust fan and opt for a separate range hood. When shopping, an effective range hood should move at least 200 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) but avoid installing one that’s too powerful to prevent backdrafting.
Bathroom –
- Toilets and faucets - WaterSense-labeled products and services are certified to use at least 20 percent less water, save energy and perform as well as or better than regular models. Replacing showerheads with WaterSense- labeled models can save four gallons of water every time you take a shower and replacing old, inefficient faucets and aerators with WaterSense-labeled models can save 700 gallons of water per year. DYK: Bathrooms are the largest use of water in the home, using more than 50 percent of all indoor water.
- Water heater - Replacing a tanked water heater with a tankless model will reduce the amount of energy consumed and the cost to heat water. A tankless water heater will heat only what is needed, when it’s needed. Plus, it doesn’t require a pilot light, so it emits less carbon dioxide and improves indoor air quality. Shopping Tip: Check to see if rebates are available in your area, they can often reduce the cost up to $500.
Living Room -
- Set your ceiling fan for the season – Your ceiling fan likely has a switch that controls the direction of the fan blades. In the warmer months you’ll want to set your ceiling fan in a counterclockwise direction; pushing air downwards, creating a wind chill effect that cools people in the room. Eco-tip: Ceiling fans don’t lower room temperature but do cool people – so never run a ceiling fan in an empty room.
- LEDs - First, make sure all the bulbs in your home (and on the exterior) are LEDs. LEDs have an expected lifetime of an amazing 25,000 hours! Typical incandescent bulbs only last for about 1,000 hours. That means if you left an LED light on for six hours a day, it would last almost 11 ½ years. Switching just the five most-used lights in your home could save you around $44 a year on your electric bill.
- Integrate smart lighting - Smart lighting lets you set schedules for your bulbs, so they’ll automatically turn off whenever you choose. If you’re in a rush to get the kids out the door in the morning and forget to turn off the lights, you won’t waste an entire day’s worth of energy keeping unnecessary lights on. The ability to dim any smart bulb in your home can also cut back on a good chunk of your energy use. Eco-tip: Smart bulbs can work in any room in the house.
Laundry -
- Wash your clothes with cold water - The advances in washing machines and detergents make cold-water washing highly effective. Since about 90 percent of the energy consumed while running a load is used to heat the water, the average household opting for cold can eliminate as much as 350 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. For most homes, this will amount to about $60 in savings a year. Bonus: Washing in cold is proven to help preserve the color of your clothes.
- Skip (or limit) the dryer - There are approximately 88 million dryers in the U.S., each emitting more than a ton of carbon dioxide per year. Because dryers use so much energy, skipping it altogether can make a real difference. Clothes last longer when you line dry because there's less wear and tear than when you use the dryer.
- If you’re a dryer devotee, cleaning the lint filter frequently will increase efficiency and shorten drying time. If your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it. This will automatically reduce the amount of drying time or shut off the machine when it senses that clothes are dry.