In this post you will learn …

• About affordable ways to go green at home.
• Saving ideas and tips that the whole family can help with.
• More about Stanek Windows’ energy efficient replacement windows and doors.

Everyone’s talking about going green; from large industrial plants to those in a one-person apartment. Americans have realized the importance of clean air and fresh water and there are many ways that companies and families are going green. In this blog post, we will go over a variety of really simple things you can do right now to help save our environment. If you decide to try a few of these ideas, be sure to include those around you so they can also learn about recycling and saving the environment.

Ways to Save Energy at Home

There are so many great ways to save energy in your home. You can help protect the environment while saving money on heating and cooling costs. Listed below are some ideas to help you go green at home.

Reusable Shopping Bags

One simple method that many Americans are now taking advantage of is reusable shopping bags. Millions of plastic bags are discarded each year. You see them flying around everywhere. They clutter our parks and highways, and they require oil byproducts to manufacture. To help reduce the amount of plastic bags are out there, you can recycle them or buy several sturdy reusable shopping bags and take them with you every time you shop.

Use Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) or LED Lights

The city of New Orleans recently announced they would replace all their traditional street lights for energy efficient bulbs. Many other cities are jumping on board as well. Compact fluorescent lights last five times longer than regular bulbs, plus they burn one-third less energy. LED bulbs are another option for energy efficient lighting in your home or office. Both types of bulbs provide a cool, bright light that’s very inviting and by using a lower wattage bulb, you will save money on your electricity.

Composting and Herb Gardens

Planting a small herb garden is easy and fun. If you have children, this is a wonderful way to teach them how things grow and where our fruits and vegetables come from. You can create a small herb garden in a kitchen window sill or develop an enclosed garden outdoors for your herbs. Grow the things that you and your family enjoy like basil, cilantro and rosemary.

If you’re an avid gardener, then creating a compost bin should be a snap. Depending on the space you have at home, you can purchase or make a small or large compost pin. They can be helpful because you can throw a variety of things into the compost bin from coffee grounds and vegetable peels to grass clippings. Once your compost is fully decomposed, you can use the material as a fertilizer or with your potting soil.

More Ways to Go Green

One of the biggest ways that energy can escape your home is through inefficient old windows and doors. If you’re looking for even bigger ways to save energy in your home, then replacement windows and replacement doors are an excellent choice. Quality Stanek™ brand replacement windows are energy efficient, offer beautiful design options, and provide a lifetime of energy savings. In fact, Stanek Windows have received some of the highest structural and thermal ratings in the industry.

Of course there are many more ways to save energy. Get the whole family involved and have a contest to see who can come up with the most ingenious ways to save energy in your home.