My concern about the environment has forced me to become aware of the products used around me. One area that I decided to focus on was my home and simple changes that I could make to live green and help the world for future generations.

Luckily for me, around the same time that I decided to focus on these issues, interior designers began looking for ways to market green products. I love my bamboo floors and chose them for their environmentally friendly luxury. Unwanted carpet is a major item dumped into landfills and the amount that ends up there is horrendous.

I prefer carpet in my bedrooms and was fortunate that DuPont had created a line of carpeting that is made out of corn-based polymers, which is a renewable source. I ordered it and have been happy with the softness it provides for my family and you’d never know that it was a green product.

It’s every bit as comfortable as our regular carpet used to be and with the stain-resistant fibers I don’t have to worry about my kids spilling on it. So far, my carpet has been durable and I found out recently that manufacturing it took 30% less energy and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 60% during production. With this new information I was able to appreciate it all over again.

When I remodeled my home to be green I researched paint and discovered that eco-friendly paints are for sale. They have lower levels of Volatile Organic Compounds, which are chemicals that are expelled into the air. It was pleasant to paint with a mixture that had no smell and we were able to move our furniture right back into the house after it had dried. This saved me a lot of time and we were only out of our home for a few days. It’s a relief to know that the paint on my walls isn’t contributing to air quality issues within my house.

Lighting is an area that I struggle with the most because I have never liked the glow that comes from energy efficient light bulbs. I forced myself to change them anyway because it seemed rather silly to make all of the other changes I had committed to and not change the least expensive item on my list. A few years ago, Congress focused on lighting and passed an energy act that will force manufacturers to sell light bulbs that use 25% less electricity for the total light emitted.

In 2012 changes will be happening with light bulbs and several companies have created lights that offer consumers like me 75% greater efficiency. I intend to purchase those to save the highest amount of energy possible. The bulbs cost more and when they need to be replaced I have to make sure my family places them in the recycling bin instead of just throwing them away. However, the energy savings should make up for the additional costs and I like knowing that I’m doing what I can to help the environment.

It was exciting for me to discover that I could keep my favorite style and still be considerate towards the environment. I love a clean traditional style and was thrilled that adding natural stone granite countertops to my kitchen and bathrooms was an eco-friendly way to update my home. I also stripped the front of my kitchen cabinets and stained them a lighter shade to update them.

A few simple fixes can make a home eco-friendly and by updating my home I’m teaching my children how to be responsible toward our future.

L. R. Powell helps people who want to become an interior designer. He is an eco friendly air conditioning systems expert too and writes LG AC Reviews to help home owners plan their own ac system.

Want to Start Making Solar Power at Home? Check out these instructions for building your own solar power. Includes videos, ebook, diagrams, and all the plans you need to get off the power grid and start saving some green while going green.

If you’ve felt the squeeze what with many salaries frozen or reduced and energy prices and fuel costs increasing then you may be interested in knowing how to save money on your energy bills.  If it’s not money you’re interested in then perhaps you would like to know how to be more energy efficient and kinder to the environment.  Whatever the reason, most of us wouldn’t dare argue with the person who tells us we should be more energy efficient.

So how can we do this I hear you say?  Well here are some top tips to get you started.  You may just find it makes the world of difference……….

1.       Insulate your home

This may seem like a major change to your property but it really is no big deal and the government may even help you with the cost of it.  Approximately half of the heat in your house is lost through the walls and roof so you can imagine how much saving you could make on your heating bill should you have proper insulation installed.  Cavity wall insulation alone can save you about £100 per year in heating bills and 750kg per year in CO2 emissions.  Basically what’s involved is filling the cavity (gap) between the two walls with insulating materials designed to absorb heat. 

Although logic may suggest the contrary, solid walls in fact lose even more heat than cavity walls.  There are weather-proof insulating treatments available which can also save you hundreds of pounds in heating bills and tonnes of CO2 emissions. 

There are many different ways that you can insulate your home.  You can even lay mineral wool padding underneath timber floor boards which would also save you a significant amount of money each year.  Ensuring you have a minimum of 270mm thickness of loft insulation will further decrease your bills and make the house feel warmer. 

2.       Turn your appliances off standby

We have heard it time and time again yet we still choose to ignore it for the sake of convenience.  However have a think for what else you could spend that £40 per year on should you choose to turn off your appliances.  Perhaps a nice dress or a dinner in your favourite Italian?

If you’re not sure whether or not your appliance is fully turned off then here is a guide; If you’re switching it off via a remote then it is most probably on standby.  It is important that you use the power switch on the appliance or the plug at the wall.  If the charger or power pack is warm or has a light on then it is likely to be using power and costing you money. 

3.       Choose energy efficient appliances

Make the energy efficient rating when purchasing an appliance the priority, not how it looks.  Most energy efficient appliances will have labels on them to clearly indicate how energy efficient it is.  Appliances with the Energy Savings Trust Recommended label are in the top 20 per cent in energy efficiency. 

The European Union energy label helps you understand how energy efficient an appliance is.  A scale is utilised ranging from green to red.  ‘A’ is the most energy efficient and ‘G’ is the least energy efficient.  The best energy efficient appliances will have a rating of ‘A+’, ‘A++’, and ‘A+++’. 

If it’s an appliance you use regularly such as a television, washing machine, dishwasher, or iron, then it is likely to save you a lot of money every year.  The saving may even buy you a budget holiday on the coast somewhere!

4.       Go solar

Although solar power has been around for many years some of us still see it as a ‘new-age fad’ that will pass with time.  However solar power has stood the test of time and saved many people a lot of money in their energy bills.  Some people even make money from installing solar panels by selling the overspill of electricity to electric suppliers. 

There are two different types of solar technologies that can be installed to your house in order to save you money; solar photovoltaic that produces electricity, and solar thermal that produces hot water.

Aqua Protection has helped thousands of families save money on their energy bills, whilst contributing to a greener future. 

You can make a difference on your energy bills and contribute to a safer and more environmentally stable future by living by these top tips.  They are small changes that can make big differences.  Don’t delay and get in touch with people who can help today. 

This article was written by Debbie Smith from Aqua Protection, a UK company who specialise in Solar Panels for your home and many other services.

Want to Start Making Solar Power at Home? Check out these instructions for building your own solar power. Includes videos, ebook, diagrams, and all the plans you need to get off the power grid and start saving some green while going green.