4 Simple Tips to Make any Home Greener this Spring

This article about how you can easily Make Your Home Green is Presented by Ivory Homes.

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As Earth Day approaches and the weather gets warmer, it’s easy to make small changes that can have a huge ecological impact over time. Going into the warmer months, here are some simple, easy and inexpensive tips that can make any home greener this spring.

1. Lawn & Garden

 

In the yard, one of the easiest ways to stay green is to cut the grass to 3 inches or higher to prevent weeds and also retain moisture. Make sure to keep the blades of the lawnmower sharp.

Leave grass clippings on the lawn to add nitrogen to the soil. Yard waste, such as grass clippings and leaves, can also be used as mulch or compost for the garden. If a compost pile or bin is not available at home, it is important to dispose of unused clippings in community compost bins, barrels, or secured paper bags. Using these methods of disposal for yard waste keeps clippings from being washed into streams.

Using only one inch of water – from sprinklers and rain – per week to water the lawn will do the trick. Try placing tuna cans (one-inch-tall) in various spots around the lawn to keep track of how much water has been used. Avoid watering in the middle of the day.

And of course, maintaining lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, leaf vacuums, and similar outdoor power equipment will help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

2. Water

Use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose when washing the car on the driveway.  A hose can waste six gallons of water per minute if it is left running. Less hose time equals a greener home.

Collecting rainwater is totally legal in Utah, so keeping a barrel under the downspout is a green way to water plants and prevent erosion.

Reduce water use by installing water-efficient products or employing efficiency practices. This includes things like turning the water off while brushing teeth, or running the washing machine only when it is full.

3. Air

Indoor plants are amazing air purifiers. Try to keep an aloe vera plant handy. Aloe vera is an easy-to-grow succulent that loves direct sunlight. This plant helps to keep the air fresh by clearing particles like formaldehyde and benzene (byproducts of chemical-based cleaners and paints) from the air. And it’s a great asset to have in case of sunburn. Spider plants are also great as air purifiers, especially because they are hard to kill.

4. Electricity

Electrical appliances leak energy – just like a leaky water faucet – even when they are turned off. Power strips are a great way to reduce electrical leakage and save on energy bills, especially at night and on vacations. It is important to remember to turn the power strip off when the devices are not in use.

Ivory Homes Can Help Make Your Home Green

Every new Ivory Home is built to be energy efficient. Ivory Homes installs furnaces, windows and insulation that help customers save $1,200 on average in utility costs annually. This helps Ivory Home owners be greener and puts more green in their pockets. Visit IvoryHomes.com to learn more about building an Ivory Green energy-efficient home.