The Best Green Choices You Can Make For Your Home

Most of us do our best to reduce waste. Not only is it harmful to the environment, but waste can cost us a lot of money too. Leaving lights on or running the heating when we’re not even home increases our energy bills. And excess waste destined for landfill sites does no good at all. So how can you make your home and lifestyle green and save money on your energy bills at the same time?

Solar panels are a very popular way to reduce the cost of our energy bills. They also reduce the demand on the grid, so they’re good for the environment. Using only the power of sunlight, your home can enjoy free energy from a natural, sustainable source. And with the right contract, you could even earn money by selling your excess power back to the grid. Read a guide to solar panels to find out which setup is best for your home. Next time you renovate or decorate, consider how you can save money on lighting choices inside as well.

Thanks to Flickr for the pic

Wind power is another free energy source that will never run out. If you have a reasonable plot of land, you could generate plenty of power from every gust. All of these sustainable energy sources need to be professionally installed. But there are plenty of smaller scale gadgets that work in the same way. You can light your garden and power your water butt pump with solar energy. Your security lights can be powered in the same way, costing you nothing on your energy bills.

Reducing waste is sometimes quite tricky to do. You can do your bit by using heavy duty shopping bags for your groceries. This can dramatically reduce the number of harmful plastic bags heading to the landfill sites. Supermarkets often package their fresh produce in plastic containers. You can reduce the number that ends up in your waste by buying from a grocer and preparing the foods yourself. And leftover foods can become compost to nourish your garden.

Of course, you could save money on your grocery bills by growing your own fruit and veg. Not many people can become completely self-sufficient, but growing a few things can save a lot of cash. And it means your food is as fresh as it can possibly be. No packaging, no processing, just healthy choices fresh from your veggie patch. You can harvest rainwater into a water butt, so there is no wastage of your domestic water supply.

Thanks to Flickr for the pic

To stay warm on a cold winter night, you could choose to turn up the heat. But if you keep the heat a couple of degrees lower, you can still be warm. Close the doors to the room you’re in. Wear an extra jumper. Use thermal lined curtains to prevent heat loss from the windows. And try draft excluders around the doors. A warm throw on the sofa could be snuggly and cozy enough to keep you warm.

There are plenty of ways to be environmentally friendly and save money too. Most houses can be warmer in winter with a few quick improvements. And renewable sources of energy can be the most cost-effective way to run your home.