By Debbie Davis
Creating a home that is environmentally friendly not only helps you, but helps the environment both now and in the future. "Green" has become the buzz word for making decisions in your home that make it a healthier place to be. Here are 5 ways to get the most for the money you will spend when creating a green home.
1. Using double or triple pane windows, and thermal doors with tight seals mean you keep out the heat and the cold more efficiently which means you use less energy to keep the temperature in your home comfortable.
2. Look for appliances that are energy star rated. The Energy Star is awarded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and holds manufacturers and their products to a high standard in terms of its consumption of energy. And although these products sometimes cost more up front, they make up for the initial expense with lower power usage.
3. There are many innovative and creative products on the market now which give home owners the option to use earth friendly materials such as floors and furniture that are made from recycled products. Using old flooring, furniture, and architectural pieces that have been salvaged from older homes is also an excellent way to reuse and recycle. These seemingly small touches, when used by enough conservation- minded people, make a big difference to the environment and make an elegant addition to any home.
4. The use of organic fabrics, carpets, and other products mean fewer chemicals to off gas into your air. This means you and your family breathe less chemicals, and healthier air quality which means a healthier lifestyle.
5. Look for alternate sources of energy such as solar panels. Harnessing the sun's energy for heating and cooling is a clean source of fuel and uses less of the earth's resources. Low energy light bulbs, and dimmer switches are additional ways that you can choose to use only the power you need when you need it.
6. Consider using a programmable thermostat for heating and cooling that allows you to use less energy when you are away during the day. These timers will also allow you to set timers to keep the temperature slightly cooler at night during the winter months, and slightly warmer during the day if you work outside your home. This may seem like a lot of trouble, but the saving in costs and the environment add up to a considerable amount over time.
7. Regardless of how green your home is, there are certain indoor air pollutants such as household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, and pet dander that are impossible to keep out. And once they are inside, a green home, because it is so well insulated, unless you do something, getting the pollutants out is all but impossible. Using a high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier that has earned the Energy Star Seal will take your indoor air to the next level of healthy.
An excellent HEPA air purifier that has earned the Energy Star Seal is offered by PurerAir.com-- the ECO10 Air Purifier See it now at http://purerair.com/blueair_eco10.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Davis
For information on do-it-yourself projects and to keep your home a "green" castle:
http://knkhomeimprovements.com
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