Nov 07 2008
While I love plants, I am not necessarily the best at keeping them. I try, don’t get me wrong. I most certainly try. But for some reason, while most of my plants grow, and some even thrive, none of them really reach for the sky!
So, when my house plants began to look a bit wilted, and after enduring my husbands usual sarcastic remarks about them, I decided I really need to do something. And as it stands, it turned out to be a really simple something- reducing our home thermostat. That’s it! Most of our home plants are positioned near our heating ducts- not an oversight, but a necessity due to the fact that our heating ducts are placed near our windows. Reducing the thermostat also meant that my ‘autumn/winter’ headaches have disappeared. We aren’t cold- our home is still warm. And we’ve made it cozy and ‘winter comfortable’ by adding more throws and cushions.
Other pratical things you can do at home to save energy include:
Control water flow: Install a low flower showerhead in the bathroom and in the kitchen, and cut water use by up to 60%
Fix all drips: Leaky taps waste hundreds of liters of water per annum. Fix it and save water and money.
Seal all leaks: Keep the cooler air in by caulking cracks, gaps and leaks around walls, windows and doors.
Go seasonal: In summer, open the blinds and let in the sunshine. Too much sunshine? Curtains, blinds and planting trees or shrubs will help cool in down. In winter, add throws, rugs and cushions to make your home warmer and more comfortable.
Clean up and tune up: Make sure that all furnaces and filters are regularly cleaned and serviced. A well tuned furnace or boiler will last longer, work more efficiently and hence, will save you money and energy.
