Earth Day recently occurred. It is important that we take the lessons we have learned from all the hype surrounding this now more commercial event and use the new ideas in our daily life. In this article, we will highlight specific actionable items you can do to save money and also help the environment.
Saving Money at Home
The biggest energy drain on a household is heating and cooling, but that doesn't mean you have to wear sweaters or bathing suits around the house to save energy. There are a number of ways to invest in home efficiency by reducing energy consumption, starting with your windows. Depending on your situation and investment capability, it is possible to use sunlight to passively heat your home. Skylights can create natural lighting and save on electricity, and Energy Star windows can be placed on south-facing windows to help generate heat and light.
The Energy Star label, an international standard for energy efficient products, is one thing to keep an eye out for when investing in new items or appliances. Computers, for instance, often have the Energy Star label, indicating they are more energy efficient than required by federal standards. You can take your energy efficiency a step further by purchasing a laptop instead of a desktop computer, and keeping them turned off when not in use.
