Global warming is a
pretty commonly used term in our modern society. I think majority of people
these days have a general idea of the concept. Excess greenhouse gases produced
from burning fossil fuels are trapped in the earth's atmosphere and creates a warming
effect. Although this may seem like a potentially fantastic endless summer, in
reality global warming is having catastrophic effects. The people of low lying
island nations are slowly loosing their home to the sea, as are the animals
living on the poles who's survival is dependent on the melting ice and there
has been an undeniable increase in weather disasters in recent years. Global
warming is a global issue and we all have to do our part to help reduce its
effects.
Now I'm not
suggesting revolutionary stuff here. I'm not saying throw out your phones, sell
your cars and start using candles, but I thought I'd share some tips to get
your home environmentally friendly. Not only will it help save the environment,
in the long run it will help save you money.
Lights
Install energy
saving light globes. They provide great lighting without using as much energy.
Separate your
lighting. This way you can switch on only the lights you need, saving power.
Buy and use lamps.
If you only need a small amount of light lamps are ideal as they use much less
energy than lighting up a whole room.
Switch your outdoor
lights over to solar power. This way you can light up your backyard using only
the power of the sun.
Water
Install water saving
shower heads. This reduces the amount of water you use per shower, therefore
also reducing the amount of energy used per shower to heat the water.
Buy and use a
dishwasher. A full dishwasher uses much less water than filling the sink and
washing dishes by hand. Not only will you save water, but you will save time.
Heating/cooling
Invest in a good air
con/heating system and ensure all doors are closed when using it.
Installing curtains
will also keep your house cooler in summer and warmer in winter through
insulation. A very good investment!
