Save our environment. Save ourselves

Most of us know what does it mean by the term 'Go Green' . But are we really trying to go green? hhmm.. well, we know what is go green but dont know how to go green right? Its been only a couple of years since we started switching to echofriendly things here at home. And now i am doing a detailed search on how to make a echofriendly home. I collected some informations regarding this. Let me share it with you all. Here are some tips and tricks to an evergreen life. Make it happen. GO GREEN.

1}Shop n save :-
Buy a new Energy Star* rated washing machine and you will save enough money in operating costs to pay for a matching dryer! plus, the water you will save could fill three backyard swimming pools.

2}Summers - Blame the sun :-
The majority of your home's heat gain is caused by radiant heat from solar rays. Along with proper insulation, install radiant-barrier reflective foil in your attic to eliminate upto 97% of radiant heat. You will enjoy a cooler attic during summer months and lower electric bills too.

3}Winters - Spin that heat down :-
Your are probably using a ceiling fan during summers. But have you considered using it in winters too?? Heat rises, so in winter, the warmest part in you house will be the ceiling. That means you need to get the air off the ceiling down. During winter, the fan will need to run clockwise. So be sure your fan has a clockwise/anti-clockwise features so you can use it all year round. An ultra-efficient ceiling fan can help you save upto 10% off your heating costs.

4}Bring on the batts :-
When an unheated crawlspace sends cold air up to other rooms, your heating system works harder (and uses more energy) to compensate. Add fiberglass insulation batts between joists in the crawlspace ceiling to lower your energy bill.

5}Help habitat for humanity :-
How'd you like to spend less on home improvement projects and contribute to a worthy cause? Each year, over 100 million tons of construction materials are discarded. And guess where these tons go..into landfills. Seems a shame when things like scrap lumber, half sheets of dry wall and doorknobs can be easily recycled.
        Habitat for humanity thinks the same thing, ehich is why they have thrift and salvage stores in many cities where people like you and me can buy leftover building materials for a song. To find out more, go online at http://www.habitat.org/ or check your local phone book.

6}Outside vs Inside :-
Your indoor air could be two to five times more polluted than what's outside. To keep the air your family breathes clean and healthy, have air vents cleaned regularly and place air purifiers in your living space.

7}Lighten up! :-
Artificial lighting uses almost 15% off your household electricity. New lighting technologies can reduce energy use by 50-75%. Choose energy-efficient lighting and install lighting controls like dimmers to reduce electric use.

8}Hard water can harm :-
Clothing and linens can be harmed by hard water. Hard-water minerals are abrasive and breaks down fibers. Hard water can cut the life of your cloth by as much as a third and wear out your linens at twice the normal rate. Add a water softner system and save your clothes.

9}Wash less, wear more :-
You can consume upto five times less energy if you wear your jeans three times before washing, use cold water in the washing machine, and skip the dryer and ironing to save more.

10}Soft naturally :-
Instead of fabric softner, try a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. The vinegar will naturally balance the PH in the soap leaving your clothes soft without any chemical residues.

11}Save the whales :-
When doing laundry, choose a detergent that is made from natural ingredients, is non-petroleum based and contains no phosphates. You will help the aquatic environments where our waste eventually goes.

12}Green dehumidifiers :-
How to make natural dehumidifiers so that your furnitures, clothes or stored stuffs dosen't milde? Yes, we can make it very easily. Charcoal briquettes stored in a can or jar with holes poked in the top is a great way to absorb moisture. Or, do the same with regular old chalk. A few sticks hanging in a pair of pantyhose or a mesh bag will dry things out nicely.