53 Things You Can Do to Go Green

In commemoration of Earth Day this week, we’ve dedicated our blog to provide tips and advice for going green. Earlier this week we examined six simple things you can do to go green and we looked at larger home improvement projects you can do to help go green.

Today, we’re featuring a list of 53 things you can do to go green. While not an exhaustive list, it does provide a lot of great information and ideas to help you be more aware of your carbon footprint.

1. Adjust your Thermostat – set it warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter to reduce resource consumption and reduce your utility bills.
2. Set schedules for your thermostat – if you’re using a thermostat that allows it, you can create schedules for when your system runs. For instance, if you’re not at home during theday, you can have it set to a higher temperature (for summer months) during the day, and then have it go to a lower temperature shortly before you’re supposed to be home.
3. Install a “Smart” thermostat – Smart thermostats can adjust temperatures based on activity in the house and resource demand.
4. Use power strips or unplug electronics such as game consoles, TVs, etc. that draw power even when switched off.
5. Block direct sunlight in the summer – close window coverings, install solar shade screens, reflective films, or plant shade trees.
6. Install attic fans to moderate temperature extremes.
7. Install a whole house fan
8. Install solar panels
9. Replace older appliances to energy-efficient or ENERGY STAR® certified models.
10. Use ceiling fans in lieu of your air conditioner.
11. Lower the thermostat on your water heater – 120 degrees Fahrenheit is sufficient for most household uses. Reducing the temperature by 10 degrees can save up to five percent ongas-powered water heater costs.
12. Check window and door caulking for leaks.
13. Use LED light bulbs that use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer.
14. Turn off computers, monitors, and printers at your office each evening and on the weekends.
15. Replace your A/C filter regularly – changing the filter helps with efficiency.
16. Install insulation in your attic spaces.
17. Use a pool or spa cover – helps reduce heat loss by up to 90%.
18. Install a variable-speed pool pump – these systems are more energy-efficient.
19. Install skylights or solar tubes to lighten dark areas in your home during the day.
20. Open blinds during the day during the winter months.
21. Keep your refrigerator in the shade – fridges in direct sunlight will work harder and use more resources.
22. Clean the coils on your refrigerator – using a long brush, remove dust and debris from the coils to help the system run more efficiently.
23. Use rugs on wooden floors to reduce energy use.
24. Compost kitchen scraps – they’re great in the garden and that’s less waste going to the landfill.
25. Use live plants in your home – live houseplants can help improve the air quality of the home.
26. Install energy-efficient windows – windows that are more than single-paned provide energy savings.
27. Install a low-flow showerhead.
28. Install aerators on faucets to use less water.
29. Install a low-flow toilet – toilets made prior to 1992 use between 3.5 and 7 gallons per flush. Today’s models use about 1.3 gallons of water per flush.
30. Fix leaky toilets
31. Take a shower as opposed to taking a bath – a full bath uses about 70 gallons of water whereas a five-minute shower uses between 10 and 25 gallons of water.
32. Use a front-load washing machine as these are more efficient than top-load models
33. Hang dry your laundry.
34. Wash your clothes using lower temperatures.
35. Use concentrated or “ultra” laundry detergents.
36. Install water reservoirs that trap rainwater – use for watering plants.
37. Use native landscaping – native plants are more tolerant of the area’s climate.
38. Use dryer balls instead of dryer sheets
39. Sign up for e-billing – paper products make up a large percentage of municipal waste here in the U.S. Hard copy bills on their own generate almost 2 million tons of CO2 emissions.
40. Recycle batteries, old electronics, incandescent, and CFL bulbs.
41. Use a microwave for cooking – a microwave uses around 50% less energy than a conventional oven.
42. Plant a tree – a single tree can absorb 1 ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
43. Use recycled paper, when possible; print on both sides and use “draft mode” if available.
44. Use a reusable container for water – stop buying plastic bottles of water.
45. Use natural light as often as possible.
46. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
47. Run a full dishwasher
48. Use dimmer switches in the living and dining rooms.
49. Wrap an insulation blanket around your water heater to lower its running cost.
50. Use a microfiber cloth in place of paper towels.
51. Fix leaky faucets.
52. Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
53. Drive less and carpool where possible.

Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed green week here at The Mike Brown Group. While today is the end of the series, it shouldn’t be the end of us doing our part to be more environmentally aware and ecologically responsible. Hopefully, you’ve gotten some ideas that can help you save money by being green.