We’ve all been bombarded over the years with many different ways to be environmentally friendly. Like using solar panels of all kinds, wind turbines—either vertical or horizontal—recycling, composting our waste food, conserving water and reducing our electrical use. But most of the different ways to be environmentally friendly are geared toward the summer time. What about winter? What are you suppose to do then?
Statistically, winter is just as expensive as summer, if not more, but there are many different ways to be environmentally conscious even during those cold winter months. You can be green on a budget or with no budget at all. For those of you on a budget here are a few things you can do to become more environmentally friendly in winter (some of these suggestion should only be attempted by those who know how or with professional assistance).
Many homes have drafty windows and doors, because the windows and door are the weak points in a typical home. To battle the window draft you can simply put plastic over your window. There are two methods when using plastic; you can staple thick plastic to your window or use a blow-dryer and shrink wrap. For your door check the weather stripping.
Let’s talk about the thermostat. If your thermostat is old, it may cost you more than you think. Your thermostat could vary the temperature in your home, and you won’t even realize it. For that problem you could simply install a more efficient programmable thermostat, which allows you to set a steady temperature in your home, thereby saving you money.
If you have done all these things but it still seems cold, try an energy efficient electric heater.
Now, for those lucky enough to not be on a budget, here are some things you can do as well, starting with wind turbines, vertical or horizontal. If you’ve ever walked around the tech building on HFCC’s main campus, you may have seen both of these, but there is a difference between the two and not just the way they look. The vertical wind turbine generates more electricity than its horizontal counterpart, though both work in the winter as well as the summer. If you chose to install a wind turbine, be leery of birds and other flying creatures as they could possibly be harmed by them.
In addition, if you can afford to tear open your walls and replace them, there are many different kinds of environmentally friendly insulation to choose from. First, is cellulose insulation, which is made from recycled paper and plant fiber. There is also recycled denim insulation, made with no harsh chemicals and, lastly, you can invest in spray-in soy foam insulation. This particular insulation is healthier than regular spray-in foam insulation.
Finally, there is one more thing you could do to be green in the winter: you can replace your old windows with gas-insulated windows. These windows may be costly at first, but you will be warm and save money in the long run.
As you can see, it does not take much to be green in the winter; you just need to know what to do. Most, if not all, of these products can be found at your local home improvement or hardware store at a reasonable cost.
Now you can feel better about going green...even in the winter.