Green Light Home Inspections

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Admin
Green Light Home Inspections

Green Light Home Inspections

Going green can help reduce our daily living expenses and utility bills. It can also help us simplify our lifestyle and develop an appreciation for what we already have. The main objective would be to consume and discard less without compromising the quality of your lifestyle. In this article, find out how to go green, starting at home.

In the bathroom

  1. Turn on the water heater only just long enough to heat up the water for your shower. While waiting for the hot water to emerge from the showerhead, run the initial cold water into a bucket that you can use later to wash the floor or flush the toilet.
  2. Turn off the shower while lathering.
  3. Reuse your bath towels instead of washing them after only one use.
  4. Refrain from using disposable facial wipes. Wash your face with facial cleanser that rinses away with water.
  5. For the toilet, use half-flush for flushing liquid waste. This can be done by installing a dual-flush device in your toilet cistern to reduce the amount of water used per flush.
  6. Use bar soap. Liquid soaps are convenient and feel luxurious but need more resources to manufacture. If you cannot bear to part with your shower gel, limit its use to days on which you need extra pampering.

In the kitchen

  1. Use a vacuum flask to store hot water instead of an electric flask which needs to be kept on all the time.
  2. Make your coffee at home and bring it to work in a thermos flask. Cook a little more during dinner and bring the leftovers to work the next day. This will save you a few dollars each day as well as reduce the use of disposable containers.
  3. Cover your pots while cooking so that food will cook more quickly. Once liquids boil, keep the fire to a minimum while simmering.
  4. Refrain from leaving the tap running. Wash vegetables in a basin of water which can be reused to water your plants.
  5. Refrain from keeping your refrigerator door open for long or storing food in there that is still hot. Do not overload the refrigerator for it will make the air circulation less efficient, resulting in greater energy consumption.

Bedroom and living room

  1. On hot days, turn on the air conditioner only long enough to cool the room, then switch to the fan to circulate air around the room. Clean the air filters regularly.
  2. Open the windows to let the natural daylight in instead of turning on the lights.
  3. Turn off the TV and fan when not in use.

Laundry room

  1. Wash your clothes in the washing machine on a full load only.
  2. Hang your clothes out to dry in the open rather than use a dryer.

Study

  1. Turn off the computer when not using it for a few hours. It will take less than two minutes to boot up your computer again.
  2. Go paperless. Obtain as many bills, statements and transaction confirmations as you can online. Use online banking (or GIRO) to pay most of your bills.

All around the home and outside

  1. Fix drippy taps and leaky toilets.
  2. Switch to rechargeable batteries. Though the initial cost of rechargeable batteries and a charger is higher, you will save money and use fewer resources in the longer term since such batteries can be reused about 500 to 1,000 times.
  3. Set up convenient bins around the house to allow you to dispose of recyclable trash (paper, plastic, glass and aluminium) easily. When the bins are full, aggregate the trash and discard it in your recycling bin (or at your neighborhood recycling bin centre) on your way out. If there are no nearby recycling bins, encourage your town council to install them.
  4. Make a scrap-paper notepad. Gather sheets of used paper and staple them together, blank side up. Use the notepad for shopping lists, telephone numbers and reminders.
  5. Use big cardboard boxes to build pretend houses for your kids and cultivate their creativity. They are free and can be disposed of easily if kids tire of them quickly, saving you from having to buy expensive toy houses that take a lot of resources to produce and ship.
  6. Buy in bulk. Bulk packaging uses fewer resources and reduces the number of shopping trips you have to make.
  7. Bring your own shopping bags.

Rethink your lifestyle

  1. Make a pact to stay away from the TV, computer and game console at least one night a week. Reconnect with your family members and enjoy each other’s company without the aid of digital entertainment. Play board or card games.
  2. Consume less. We don’t need as much as we think we do. While shopping for clothes, go for simple, classic styles that will last instead of following the latest fashion fads. The initial satisfaction we derive from buying something new (but not vital) is only temporary, compared with the money and resources we could have saved.
  3. Take public transport, cycle or walk. While on the bus or train, take the opportunity to read a book, call a friend, or even become more socially conscious. Cycling and walking will help improve your fitness level.