8 Simple ways to green up your home and lower your bill September 12, 2009 http://www.exchange4green.com

Tip #1 Wash clothes in cold or warm water Using cold water to wash your clothes with cold-water detergent is actually better for your clothes. Remove some stains, switching from hot to warm water Presoaking them overnight can help you lower the energy costs as well. Best of all, check your washer settings to see what you can do in order to be more energy efficient. http://www.exchange4green.com

Using cold water to wash your clothes with cold-water detergent is actually better for your clothes.

Remove some stains, switching from hot to warm water

Presoaking them overnight can help you lower the energy costs as well.

Best of all, check your washer settings to see what you can do in order to be more energy efficient.

Tip #2 Dual Flush Toilet Fact - Improvement - Can help a family of 4 to save about 10 to 13 gallons a day Solution - You can find a kit that turns any regular toilet into Dual Flush Toilet for about $30 Result - Dual Flush Toilet can help a family of 4 to save about 10 to 13 gallons a day http://www.exchange4green.com

Fact -

Improvement - Can help a family of 4 to save about 10 to 13 gallons a day

Solution - You can find a kit that turns any regular toilet into Dual Flush Toilet for about $30

Result - Dual Flush Toilet can help a family of 4 to save about 10 to 13 gallons a day

Tip #3 Insulate Water Heater Fact -The typical water heater has 20 to 60 gallons of hot water ready whether you are at home or away for a week. Improvement - You can feel the tank and check to see whether it is warm outside. If it is, that means the tank is losing heat. Solution - You may insulate your water heater by wrapping an insulation blanket around it. However, depending on the manufactures, make sure you consult the manufactures before installing for safety issues. Result - Adding insulation to your water heater tank can prevent heat losses 25% - 45%. Furthermore, lowering water temperature can help you save as well. http://www.exchange4green.com

Fact -The typical water heater has 20 to 60 gallons of hot water ready whether you are at home or away for a week.

Improvement - You can feel the tank and check to see whether it is warm outside. If it is, that means the tank is losing heat.

Solution - You may insulate your water heater by wrapping an insulation blanket around it. However, depending on the manufactures, make sure you consult the manufactures before installing for safety issues.

Result - Adding insulation to your water heater tank can prevent heat losses 25% - 45%. Furthermore, lowering water temperature can help you save as well.

Tip #4 Plant Trees in the Backyard Planting trees in your backyard is one of the cheapest ways to cool down your house during summer. If you couldn’t find bigger trees, you can plant some small ones around the house. Trees trap CO2, make carbohydrates and release oxygen in return. http://www.exchange4green.com

Planting trees in your backyard is one of the cheapest ways to cool down your house during summer. If you couldn’t find bigger trees, you can plant some small ones around the house. Trees trap CO2, make carbohydrates and release oxygen in return.

Tip #5 Turn off the water during brushing your teeth Fact - Based on the advice from dentists, you should brush your teeth at least 2 minutes. Normally, a regular faucet flows at about 2 gallons per minutes. Result - You can save at least 4 gallons each time you brush. So if you brush 3 times a day, turning off water will save 12 gallons a day and 360 gallons a month. http://www.exchange4green.com

Fact - Based on the advice from dentists, you should brush your teeth at least 2 minutes. Normally, a regular faucet flows at about 2 gallons per minutes.

Result - You can save at least 4 gallons each time you brush. So if you brush 3 times a day, turning off water will save 12 gallons a day and 360 gallons a month.

Tip #6 Reuse the same paper towel until the job is done Fact - How many rolls of paper towels do you use per month? Most families choose to use paper towels, because they are more convenient and cleaner than mobs. Solution - In order to save paper towels, make sure the towels you purchased are strong enough for at least few times of use. You may wash and dry the same piece of paper towel until the job is done. http://www.exchange4green.com

Fact - How many rolls of paper towels do you use per month? Most families choose to use paper towels, because they are more convenient and cleaner than mobs.

Solution - In order to save paper towels, make sure the towels you purchased are strong enough for at least few times of use. You may wash and dry the same piece of paper towel until the job is done.

Tip #7 Energy Star Electronics Fact - Energy Star-label was created by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency for energy-efficient products. Solution - In an effort to lower your energy bill and reduce pollution and emissions, Energy Star-labeled products can save up to nearly 40% on your annual energy bill. http://www.exchange4green.com

Fact - Energy Star-label was created by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency for energy-efficient products.

Solution - In an effort to lower your energy bill and reduce pollution and emissions, Energy Star-labeled products can save up to nearly 40% on your annual energy bill.

Tip #8 Showerhead Fact - As you all know, shower takes lots more water than bath. Normally, a showerhead without low-flow feature uses up to 6 gallons of water per minute. Solution - Using low-flow showerhead can help you conserve the water while showering. Here are some preferences in terms of flow rate(s) and price(s) – a. 1 gallon/minute at $40 b. 1.2 gallon/minute at $12 http://www.exchange4green.com

Fact - As you all know, shower takes lots more water than bath. Normally, a showerhead without low-flow feature uses up to 6 gallons of water per minute.

Solution - Using low-flow showerhead can help you conserve the water while showering. Here are some preferences in terms of flow rate(s) and price(s) –

a. 1 gallon/minute at $40

b. 1.2 gallon/minute at $12

Conclusion Even though these tips seem pretty simple and small, but they become a big thing once you add them up. Going green doesn’t have to be expensive. Doing what you can do to help our environment and lower your budget. http://www.exchange4green.com

Even though these tips seem pretty simple and small, but they become a big thing once you add them up. Going green doesn’t have to be expensive. Doing what you can do to help our environment and lower your budget.