The Office of Sustainability and Environment in Seattle is making a real effort to make the city a greener and more eco-friendly place. Reducing the carbon footprint of the city is just one goal; reduction of water wastage and developing improved recycling services are also on the agenda. However, there is only so much the city council can do; a greener Seattle will need its residents to start making changes to become more eco-friendly themselves.
To live a more eco-friendly lifestyle there are quite important changes you can make, and none of them will reduce the quality of your life. A few small changes can make a big difference to the environment, and others may actually save you money. During these times of economic austerity green policies can actually help improve household budgets.
Preserving water
Saving and preserving water continues to be a very important issue. Modern society continues to require huge amounts of water all year round and it is sometimes difficult for suppliers to meet demand. One of the easiest ways you can help the environment is to make a real effort to use less water. Ensure that there are no dripping taps in the home. Replacing a leaking tap will save money and a lot of water in the long run.
Studies have shown that some dishwashers use less water to clean dishes than hand washing in a sink. They are also very energy efficient because less hot water means less energy is used. If you can run the dishwasher on a timer set it to run at night when energy is in less demand. You might even be able to get a reduced rate from your supplier for off-peak energy.
One way in which households waste a lot of water is through small undiscovered leaks at fittings over a long period. Older homes may have corroded pipe fittings. While copper pipes can last for centuries the fittings are the points of weakness and once corrosion sets in leaks will develop. Jim Dandy plumbing in Seattle, a local firm is often called out to carry out emergency repair work on dated plumbing which is resulting in not only water damage to a home but a huge water bill.
Turn the thermostat down
Lowering the overall temperature of the house can make big energy savings. Reducing a thermostat setting by a few degrees will mean that far less energy is needed to sustain the required temperature.
Switch off radiators in rooms that are not used. Whenever you open your front door a huge amount of heat is lost from the hallway – do you need to heat the hallway? Turn off radiators and keep an unused room cool, save money and waste less heat. The same should be done for guest bedrooms, WCs, which are rarely used, and laundry rooms or utilities.
Heating controllers can be set to turn off the system at night. If conditions are such that the house would become too cold just lower the thermostat setting; we tend to sleep better when the temperature is cooler. If you really want to save more, turn off kitchen and living room radiators before bed.
Lighting
Lighting your home uses a lot of energy. The best way to reduce costs is to use LED light bulbs. These use less energy than Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) bulbs and it is now possible to buy dimmable LED bulbs that will use even less energy. LED bulbs can last for over ten years; some manufacturers claim a lifespan of up to 25 years. Using fewer bulbs means less landfill waste.
Make a few changes in the home that will save you money and it is likely you will also help save the environment.