Heating Your Home the Green Way

At least for those of us in the Northern hemisphere, the winter months are upon us and with that comes colder temperatures, blustery winds, and chilly rains or snowfalls. As the temperature outside drops, inside we are apt to turning up our thermostats. In doing so, we are also contributing to an estimated 4 tons of gas emissions a year from each home. In addition to having a negative effect on the environment, heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer make a big dent in our bank accounts as well. There are plenty of ways that we can still keep warm, while cutting back on the poisonous gasses we send pluming into the atmosphere and adopt a more ethical energy consumption.

Luckily, with global warming being a rather hot topic, energy suppliers have begun changing the means by which they generate their power and can offer greener electrical options. This may not be available to everyone, but for those who's electrical companies offers wind, solar, and other renewable systems this is an excellent way to lesson your impact on the environment. When energy is collected by windmills and solar panels instead of coal or oil the subsequent adverse effect on the atmosphere drops astoundingly. Yet these options aren't available everywhere, and the only way to urge electrical companies to rely more on renewable resources rather than the conventional ones is to raise the demand for greener energy. That means that a lot of the power for changes rests in our, the consumers' hands, because if the market for green energy sources outweighs the other, energy companies will have no choice but to follow through.

Well, that will take time, but in the mean time there are plenty of other ways to lesson the amount of energy your home uses. In the winter, bundle up with some cozy thermals and socks, and outfit your beds and sofas with blankets. During the day, keep your blinds open and allow what sunlight that does exist naturally warm your house. Check that your insulation is in proper condition and that your windows and doorways are sealed tight. Shut the doors to the rooms you aren't using, which will cut off unnecessary space to heat. Then, when you go to bed at night turn your thermostat down and add a few extra blankets.

These 'little' changes can really add up, and bring your heating bill down anywhere from 5-30%. Think of the money as an added bonus for adopting a more ethical energy outlook. At the same time, look into if renewable energy solutions are available in your area. The four main sources are wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. These are the greener choices of the future, and how soon and widespread they replace coal, oil, nuclear, and even natural gas methods is left in our hands.

Photo Credit: blog.broadcastengineering.com