March 25, 2011

5 Easy Tips To Green Your Home In Time For Earth Day

Did you know Earth Day turns 40 years old on April 22, 2011?

As a Built Green Builder, Wallmark Homes believes in the benefits of going green. For those of you who haven't built your green home from scratch, there are ways to improve your existing home's greenness. In celebration of the upcoming Earth Day, we would like to share with you some easy ways you can "go green" in your home before the big day.

Be Good to your Home and the Earth

[caption id="attachment_947" align="alignright" width="308" caption="Boost Boxes to save Water and Energy"]Boost Boxes to save water and energy[/caption]

1.  Use Energy Star rated CFL bulbs throughout your home. They last longer than standard lightbulbs AND consume up to 75% less energy which saves you money on energy costs,  up to $30 over the life of the bulb.

2. Clean with eco-friendly cleaners. Think about it, if there are toxic chemicals in your cleaning products, you are introducing those chemicals to your air and releasing them into the environment which can affect your health. Clean green and your home will look great plus you and the earth can feel better!

3. Insulate the water heater. Purchase an inexpensive insulating blanket at the hardware store to wrap around your water heater and you'll help it retain more heat which means less money and energy spent on hot water.

4. Invest in a programmable thermostat and set temperatures to coincide with the times you are at home. While you are away at school or work, you can give your heater or a/c AND wallet a break by keeping your home cooler in the winter and warmer in summer.

5. Make every drop count. Upgrade to WaterSense rated showerheads and faucets. They can save gallons of precious water everyday which means savings for you, in addition to being better for our water supply. Even if you don't replace the whole faucet, you can inexpensively use a WaterSense rated aerator to help conserve water.

If you fancy yourself a bit of  Do-It-Yourself activity but don't know where to start, you should check out the Boost Boxes from Boost Home Products. There is a selection of several different boxes that are geared toward different areas of your home to save energy or water.  Each box comes loaded with everything you need, including easy instructions.  All you have to do is roll up your sleeves and get to work- it's a great spring home improvement project that will pay off in peace of mind as well as being friendly to our great planet!