We know how overwhelming going green can seem. When you look at all the parts of your life that could be better, the process seems daunting. Break down green lifestyle changes into small steps, however, and you’ll find that making a few changes a month adds up fast but doesn’t disrupt your daily routine. Combine small acts like taking shorter showers with big changes like installing a better HVAC system in your Sarasota, Florida, home, and start enjoying a greener lifestyle.
Create a Compost Pile
Humans produce a lot of trash. If you don’t know anything about composting, you may not realize just how many things you don’t have to throw away. Significantly reducing your trash production keeps materials like plastics out of the oceans and the wilderness, where they’re dangerous to wildlife. It also keeps them from taking up space in landfills. You don’t just add your leftover food (not meat) to compost; things like dryer lint, wood ash, coffee grounds, newspapers, and cardboard can all go into the compost pile.
Upgrade to Energy Star
Is your HVAC system 10 years old or older? If it is, you can save more than $115 a year on energy bills if you upgrade to an Energy Star system. Many Energy Star systems offer innovative HVAC technologies that save money without affecting your home’s interior comfort and temperature. Systems like variable-speed heat pumps and programmable thermostats add to the energy-saving capacity of Energy Star HVAC models.
Time Your Showers
The typical shower head sprays between three and four gallons of water each minute. If you take a 10-minute shower, that means you’re using between 30 and 40 gallons of water! One of the simplest ways to reduce your water consumption is to reduce your showering time. Try taking a shower between five and seven minutes long. As long as you don’t increase your shower frequency, thanks to this reduced time limit, you’ll save water. You can also invest in a low-flow shower head, which uses about half the water of a typical shower head.
Plan a Bike Route
Biking to work isn’t feasible to everyone; if you need to arrive every day in a pristine suit, getting sweaty on a bike isn’t an option. Think about the other places you typically go during your week. Can you turn even one of those outings into a bike ride instead of a car ride? Bike to the gym and cut down on the amount of cardio you have to do while there. Bike to your favorite restaurant, then grin as you order dessert! You’ll be saving money on gas, reducing carbon emissions, and adding a healthy routine to your life.
Set Your Thermostat
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends certain thermostat settings for optimum energy savings. You may think you’re saving energy by turning the thermostat off during the summer, but when you need the house to cool down again, your HVAC system has to work so hard that you end up eliminating any energy savings you made when the AC wasn’t on. When you’re home, set the thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 in the winter. When you’re away from the house or sleeping, add or decrease 10 degrees.
Make Household Cleaners
Instead of buying household cleaners in the store, make yours at home. Many homemade household cleaners involve simple ingredients like vinegar, hot water, and baking soda. When you make your own cleaners, you’ll reduce the number of chemicals you release into the air, and you’ll improve your indoor air quality. Aerosol cleaners and air fresheners contain ingredients like formaldehyde that sometimes exacerbate allergies and asthma symptoms. Your pets will be happier and safer, too! Homemade cleaning products aren’t dangerous to pets the way bleach-based products can be.
We know about lots of energy-efficient HVAC products that will lower your energy bills and improve your carbon footprint. Ask any qualified Climatic Conditioning Co. technician about energy-recovery ventilators, air filters, and the best green innovations from Carrier. We’ll evaluate your current system and talk to you about upgrades. Call us today at (941) 758-3080.
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