How to Make Your House More Eco-Friendly
We all want to do our part to protect the environment, but without a large paycheck doing so can be seem difficult, if not impossible. But doing your part doesn't have to be hard, and it doesn't have to be expensive. We all knowing that going green is better for the environment, but it's also better for you. Conserving resources also helps save you money, which is something most of us are happy to live with. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Use less water. Saving water is all about small steps: Shut off the water while you brush your teeth. Take showers that are a minute or two shorter. Only flush the toilet when you need to. Only run full loads of laundry and dishes. Buy from sustainable producers. These are farmers, ranchers and other producers that use techniques that pollute less and use less water.
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Use less energy. Even if you don't have the money to buy a hybrid car or convert your house to solar power, you can still make a big difference with small changes. Buy energy-efficient appliances. They may be more expensive, but they make up for the increased cost in lower energy bills. Unplug chargers when you're not using them. Cell phone and other chargers use power even if there's nothing attached to them. Put devices with remotes, like TVs, VCRs and stereos, on a power strip and turn it off when you're not using them. Walk or ride your bike for short trips. Buy local products. It takes energy to transport food and other products across the country.
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Reuse. Most of us know the three Rs -- reduce, reuse, recycle -- but when we work on conserving, we often leave reuse out of the picture. While you can tips on how to reuse common products abound, what you need most is creativity. With a little thought there are many items around your home that can be reused, For example, toilet paper holders can be used to sow seeds for the vegetable patch. Old yogurt containers can be cut into strips to make plant labels. Food jars can be refilled with homemade foods or can make great impromptu vases.
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Use environmentally friendly products. When you go to the grocery store, you probably see more and more "natural" or "eco-friendly" products every time. There are generally two big problems with these products: Just because they're more natural than regular products doesn't mean they're entirely natural, and they're often expensive. If you want inexpensive, natural, safe products, you can easily make them yourself. Vinegar is a great way to clean and disinfect glass and other surfaces. Need to remove stubborn stains? Just add some baking soda to your vinegar cleaner.
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Tips & Warnings
When it comes to saving energy and water, it's a great idea to get the kids involved. You can even make it a game. Have them track how much water and electricity everyone is using. You can compete to see who uses the least water. You can often count on your kids to help keep you on track when given the task.
Be prepared to update your home use professional services to avoid accidents
Never take on a project that you're not sure how to do
References
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