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For most people, saving the environment is more of a question about whether or not they can afford to live a little “greener” or not.  Luckily, there are many ways you can live greener to help the environment and save money at the same time.

  1. Replace your doors with weatherproof, insulated versions.  These doors offer 1.5 inch thick insulation and have been proven to keep in five times the amount of heat or cooling that a traditional wood door does.  The styles can match your home, whether you have a traditional style home or a contemporary home.  The prices range between $200 and $400 – but over the lifetime of the door you would see much more savings in your heating and cooling costs. 
  2. Recycle rain water for gardening and outside water tasks.  There are specifically designed collection containers for doing this- that cost under $130 and are even outfitted with hose fittings, hand pumps and filters.  You can direct your home’s roof downspouts directly into the collection containers to harvest as much of this water as possible.  The water is better for your gardening than tap water, and it reduces your water bill as well as wasted water.
  3. Create an all-natural windbreaker.    Planting rows of evergreen trees around your property border will help reduce the effect of wind blowing through and around your home- and therefore reduce the amount of your precious heating that gets carried away with it!  You’ll start experiencing savings within three to five years of planting the trees.
  4. Install heavy draperies correctly.  In the winter, many families cover their windows with heavy drapes.  Not only does it help to keep the heat in and the drafts out; but it prevents people from peaking in, as well!  Along with the draperies, you’ll want to install window cornices on the top to prevent warm air from being sucked up like a vaccuum from the bottom of the draperies, cooled as it moves past the windows, and then spit out like air conditioning from the top!  The cornices will reduce the airflow that is pulled up from the back of the draperies, as will draperies that hang so that the bottoms just touch the floor.  Draperies hung correctly can save 25% of your heating and cooling bills.
  5. If your home seems either freezing cold or scorching hot at various intervals of the day, it may be time to replace your thermostat.  Many older thermostats have trouble registering the actual temperature after the air conditioning system or heat has run for awhile and so the system runs longer than necessary.  An inexpensive thermostat replacement offers an easy way to conserve on  utility bills.


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