Thursday, August 30, 2012

Quick Ways To Save Energy By Going Green In Your Household

By George Favreau


There are many aspects that have been targeted by the green movement as big issues for the environment, and one of those is laundry. A great deal of energy is spent to wash one load of laundry, and then to dry it, so add that up over a few loads and you'll agree it is staggering. You can save around 3 times as much energy if you choose to use cold water rather than hot.

In the United States, there are detergents that are created for cold water use, whereas a number of the European makes call for hot water. What works well is to start your laundry with cold water, add the soap as it fills up, and then lastly put the clothes in. A number of the laundry detergents can be replaced with a small amount of baking soda, without negatively affecting the quality of your wash. The removal of dirt from the clothing is done for the most part by the agitation of the water, not that of the laundry detergent. With all of the different types of detergents, you need to check around to find the natural ones that won't harm the environment.

When shopping, be certain of what you are buying as opposed to what the marketing claims may want you to believe. If possible, dry your clean clothes by hanging them up, instead of putting them in a dryer. The fresh air and sunshine will do wonderful things for the smell and color of your washables, while much less energy will be consumed, to the benefit of your pocket. A great deal of the discolorations are set in by the heat from the dryer, so your clothes can be cleaner if you air dry them. Along with the laundry, there are other easy ways to conserve on electricity, and make your household more green.

Switching the bulbs is an easy and effective way. You would utilize a lot less power by trading your conventional lightbulbs for compact flourescent bulbs, which are far more energy-efficient. Doing this helps the planet as well as reduces what you pay for electricity. If it's your custom to take a shower, start showering faster. Cutting down the time to fifteen minutes won't lead to you being any less clean than when showering for an hour. This will also save you money as you will be consuming a lot less hot water. Not only are you going to be consuming much less water, but less energy for warming it up.

Lights must not be left switched on when they aren't required. This holds true for all electrical appliances. Disconnect all such items after using them, whether it be something seemingly unimportant like a cellphone charger, or something more obvious like a PC or television. They continue to use power, though less, simply by being plugged in. In the winter, each time you prepare meals, take the opportunity to use your oven as a heater. After making use of the oven, switch it off, but leave the door open, letting the heat spread throughout the room. It is pretty easy to go green with your energy consumption, with just a little bit effort.




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