There are many simple steps you can take to help the environment. Most often, the small choices we make in our everyday lives are what make the difference. Most environmental problems today are the result of actions taken by billions of people around the world. If enough people make the effort to become eco-friendly the results would be monumental.

Here are some simple strategies that you can implement:

1. Drive Less, Walk More

This is advantageous in three ways – it helps the environment, it saves you money and it’s good for your health! Sometimes driving cannot be avoided, but try to cut down on the number of trips to the grocery store or mall, carpool when possible and walk or ride a bicycle when you can.

2. Clean Green

Join the “clean green” movement by buying natural or organic cleaning products, or by using inexpensive household products like vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. These products are less toxic for your home, family and pets. They are also better for the environment than products that use harsh chemicals that end up in our air, ground soil and water supplies.

3. Make Your Pets Green

You can enlist your furry friends to help the environment as well. Natural and organic pet foods, shampoos, flea and tick repellents and other pet supplies are now easily found.

4. Keep Temperatures Comfortable but Moderate

If you want to save money on your electric bill and help the environment, set your heat to 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer.

5. Shop Locally

Food and other items that have to be shipped long distances use up a lot more energy than those produced in your own community. Look for farmer’s markets for your produce and local stores for your shopping needs.

6. Create A Simple Recycling System

Make it easy for your household to recycle. Have a system everyone understands and share responsibilities to keep it in order. Use clearly marked bins, boxes or bags for recycled item like glass, newspapers and metal.

7. Go Paperless

You can cut down on paper use by paying bills and conducting transactions online.  Also try to cut down on the number of junk mail lists you are on.

8. Check Your Home’s Insulation

If your home is well insulated, you can cut down on heating costs, which saves energy for everyone. If you are really ambitious, you can look into alternative energy options like solar, which can reduce energy usage even more.

9. Eat Less Meat

Not everyone wants to be a vegetarian, but by even cutting back on your meat consumption you are helping the environment. Factory farms are a major source of energy consumption, as it’s very expensive to raise all those animals and feed them. If you do eat meat, consider patronizing local farms that use natural or organic methods of production.

10. Look For More Ways to Recycle

Recycling just means reusing something. Many things people buy new could be bought much cheaper used without much sacrifice. This includes cars, clothing, furniture, toys and electronic gadgets. In the same manner, pass things on to others when you finished with them rather than sending them to the dump.

These simple strategies can help spark your imagination to find your own ways to help the environment.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

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You can save money and help the environment by using less electricity, gas or oil by turning your fireplace into an energy efficient, heating source with a fireplace insert. By using a fireplace inserts you will not only save money on your heating costs by cutting down your utility bill, you will add a classy, warm and cozy look to your home. Everyone with older wood burning fireplaces can benefit from the installation of a fireplace insert. Generally, older fireplaces have efficiency ratings of just five to ten percent. This low efficiency is due to the open combustion design that allows an abundance of heated room air to be drawn into the fire, causing the fire to burn too fast and wasting energy. In contrast, a fireplace insert is an insulated, closed-door system that slows the fire down and increases the temperature of the fire to facilitate more complete combustion. This closed combustion system can assist in generating efficiencies of above 65 percent in many cases which can translate into more heat output. And, when it comes to burning wood, an EPA-certified wood burning fireplace insert can also reduce, emissions from wood burning down to zero.

Fireplace inserts come in a variety of sizes to fit all types of fireplaces. They also come in many styles, shapes, colors, and features to suit all tastes and styles. You can find an insert that will compliment basically any type of décor. Many manufacturers also augment the operation of fireplace inserts by offering state-of-the-art features such as fans and thermostatic controls. High quality and efficiency allows you to maximize your heat output with less need for wood. You want to choose models that are equipped with a sturdy pan to collect the ash and which are constructed with state of the art cast iron. Most models have a longer over night burning duration, and you want to make sure yours does if you want your house to be heated through the night without having to kick on the heat. You also want to have accessible controls that are designed on the unit and a thermostat to control the fan for desired heating levels.

The installation is fairly easy. Once the insert is installed it looks like a custom designed unit. Fireplace inserts are made from cast iron or steel and have self-cleaning glass doors that allow the dancing flames of the fire to be viewed while the insulated doors remain closed, making the fire more efficient.

If you have a fireplace and want to become energy efficient, environmentally friendly, add an amazing, breathtaking view to your home, and most importantly cut the costs of your current heating bills, then fireplace inserts will be the solution for you and your family.

Keep Going Green,

Jay

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