8 Ways Homeowners Can Celebrate Earth Day Now

On Earth Day, let’s not think about all the positive differences we can make tomorrow; let’s think about what we can do TODAY. Check out these 8 little Pearls of wisdom that you can put into effect now:

1.  Time Your Chores When demand for electricity is at its highest, it can actually cost more to produce the needed electricity. Unfortunately, electric companies tend to pass on this cost to their customers. You can place less strain on the grid (and save some money in the process) by running your dishwasher, washing machine, or other energy-demanding chores during off-peak hours*:

2.  Grab a Broom When cleaning a wood or tiled surface, opt for a broom instead of a vacuum cleaner to save on electricity.

3.  Hang Out to Dry Drying clothes on an outdoors clothesline or hangers in your house requires no energy expenditure, compared to the electricity requirements of a dryer.

4.  Clean Cold Particularly soiled clothes may benefit from hot water in the washing machine, but in general, clothes tend not to be dirty enough to warrant hot water. Instead, opt for cold water because the process of heating can be one of the biggest energy demands in a home.

5.  Meal Planning Cooking one meal at a time expends much more energy than cooking in bulk. Save energy, time, and effort, while making leftovers for tomorrow, simultaneously.

6.  Clean Your Coils Twice a year homeowners should clean their refrigerator coils for optimal performance. Clean refrigerator coils can reduce energy bills by 6%!

7.  Change Your Filters Clean or replace air conditioner filters every 90 days to reduce electricity demands by 5-15%!

8.  Certify Your Home Login to Green Door for free to report your home’s energy-efficient attributes and learn which home improvements to prioritize to optimize energy use.

Don’t stop planning sustainable home improvements for tomorrow, but let’s start taking action today.

*Peak utility hours may vary by location.