LizzieWeakley

For most homeowners, finding ways of keeping the house warm during winter is attributed to the need to minimize costs. Energy bills always skyrocket, especially during winter, since it is the time where heat is required the most for warmth. However, keeping warm during winter also contributes to comfort one can experience in the house. The winter season is always associated with the holiday season, but what good is it if one is freezing and not in a joyous state? There are strategies a homeowner can incorporate to facilitate warmth during the winter season, and some are listed below. Maintenance of HVAC Your home heating and cooling system needs to be well maintained to ensure performance efficiency. HVAC is one of the most vital investments one is bound to have. However, what good is it if it cannot offer the right kind of heating services during the winter? The HVAC condition must be regularly checked since long-term use may lead to clogging of its air duct and some parts tend to wear-out. With a highly-maintained HVAC unit, you get to enhance comfort and cut on costs in the long run. Check on the Windows Before winter approaches, you need to check on the condition of your windows. A lot of heat is lost through the window when in a poor state. For one, you must ensure that the windows are double-glazed. Double glazed windows improve home insulation by trapping warm air that is necessary during winter. Besides, you must also ensure that the windows are covered with thick curtains. However, it is best to leave the curtains open during the day to allow natural light into the house and shut the windows and curtains immediately after the sun is down to retain such heat. Seal Any Gaps or Cracks You may notice cracks on the walls and gaps on the windows and doors. Action must be taken early enough before winter approaches. The sealing of such areas significantly improves home energy efficiency. A door snake can be useful for sealing the door bottom and gap fillers for any cracks. Check on the Ceiling Fans Contrary to what most people think, ceiling fans can also be a great contributor to improving home insulation. Most, if not all, ceiling fans are designed to switch in reverse directions. When the fan blades spin in a clockwise direction during winter, they force the hot air rising in a room down hence improving warmth. With the above information, you can easily save energy bills during winter. Besides, there is guarantee of enjoying the best holiday season due to the improved living situation.

When you are completing projects in your home to update the kitchen, bathroom, or living room, you might find yourself with a big pile of trash. There are many reasons for you to keep recycling on your mind as you work to clear that trash out of your home. Recycle Materials to Give Them New Life There are certain materials that are going to be taken out of your home during a remodel that might be useful to you in new ways or that might be useful to someone else. You should consider the things that have been taken out of your home to see if someone else might be able to use them for a woodworking or landscaping project. You should think about ways that each item from your home can be given new life and help someone save money. Recycle to Keep From Feeling Bad About Completing a Renovation If you throw away everything that is removed from your home during a remodel, you might find yourself feeling a little gross about the remodel. You might feel guilty for the changes that you have made and you might put off doing any kind of renovation work in the future. When you choose to recycle items from your home, you can know that you are remodeling in a responsible way and that you are not messing up the planet too much with the changes that you are bringing about. Recycle to Have Less Trash Left in the End When you start to clean up after your remodel, you want to be able to put the majority of the mess left behind into the skip bins that are designed for recyclable materials. You want to avoid throwing a lot of the materials that you have gathered into the actual trash, and you would like to make sure that your mess is going to be put to good use. The more that parts of your home can be repurposed, recycled, and reused, the less actual trash you are going to be left with when your renovation project is complete. You can find guides that will help you know what you can and cannot recycle as you work on a renovation project. You can also find people who are interested in going through old materials and seeing what they can repurpose. Hold yourself back from automatically throwing everything in the trash after completing renovation work.

In a world of ever-increasing demand for quality products, there is a nearly unlimited potential for your manufacturing business to grow. In the midst of your growth, though, it's important to make sure that you're doing all you can to be kind to the environment so that future generations have the same opportunities that have led to your success. The good news is that there are plenty of initiatives you can launch that will help lead to lowering your facility's environmental impact. Utilize Renewable Energy The electricity that powers your facility represents one of its most significant environmental impacts. Therefore, if you can work to curb this impact, it will make your facility greener, overall. One way to achieve this goal is to utilize renewable energy for some or all of your energy demands. Whether you choose a direct investment by doing something like installing solar panels on your facility's roof or an indirect investment, such as offsetting your facility's carbon emissions, every effort helps to lead to a better tomorrow. Recycle Excess Materials Although any type of waste costs your company money, there is almost always some level of waste in every manufacturing process. If your facility uses recyclable materials, then the best thing that you can do is to send any waste materials off to be recycled. In some cases, such as copper recycling, aluminum recycling, and others, you may find that your recycling efforts provide an extra income stream for your business. Consider What You Use In some cases, the harmful environmental effects of your facility may not come so much from the products that are created as the materials that are used to create these final products. If you can do a thorough review of the consumables that you use during the manufacturing process, you may find room for improvement so that you end up using fewer toxic and harmful substances. In addition to being good for the environment, this review can potentially help improve the health of the employees in your facility. Use Multi-Speed Machines Unless it's always active, running a machine at full speed during an entire shift can waste a lot of electricity. Therefore, when it comes time to replace equipment in your facility, it's important to use multi-speed machines whenever possible. By actively adjusting their speed based on demand, you can expect to realize significant energy savings over the life of the machine. It's likely that you have multiple employees within your organization who have great ideas for how to improve your facility's environmental friendliness. By reaching out to your employees through a survey or other feedback-gathering method, you'll be able to gain insights that you might otherwise miss.

There is nothing more comfortable than staying in a warm house when it's freezing outside. But how can you win the battle of keeping your house warm when it's freezing outside? To keep your house warm during winter, it is imperative to insulate a new place with every degree drop. Here are hacks to keep cold outside during winter. Stop Drafts The gaps on exterior doors allow a lot of cold air to enter your house. If you want a temporary solution during winter, buy double draft stoppers that sit beneath the bottom of a door. Stop drafts are relatively cheap, and they prevent cold air from seeping in and heat from leaking outside. If you are looking for a permanent solution, invest in a door sweep to reduce airflow beneath the door. Seal the Fireplace Properly An improperly sealed fireplace allows heat loss to occur. If your fireplace isn't sealed properly, get a fireplace plug, a reusable and inflatable product fitted below the damper in a fireplace to seal air leakage. Insulate the Attic and the Basement If you want to keep cold air away, fill the basement ends with insulation. Find a flexible product and fit it loosely in between joints. You don't necessarily have to compact the thickness; all you need to do is fill the gaps to prevent cold air from seeping inside. Additionally, you may consider investing in attic insulation. Insulating the attic will help to retain more heat in the house and enhance energy efficiency. Bubble Wrap the Windows Windows account for a significant amount of heat loss. After window tinting, it is advisable to bubble wrap your windows to add an extra insulation layer. If your windows are old, they may be inefficient in keeping the indoors warm. Replacing old windows is a significant investment that is not necessary. Instead, install bubble wraps to prevent cold air from getting indoors through the windows. They will trap cold air while still allowing sunlight to get in through the glass. Pay Attention to Your Thermostat Setting the thermostat to a warm melting temperature may hurt your wallet when it comes to electricity bills. You may forget to turn off your thermostat when going to sleep or when not in the house leading to high electricity bills. Instead, invest in a programmable thermostat. When using a programmable thermostat, you can set a lower temperature at night or during the day when you are not in the house. Employ the tips simultaneously to ensure your house is comfortable.

In most homes, people spend about 40% of their annual budget on heating and cooling. Windows are key to insulation. Therefore, the choice of windows in your property will affect how much money you spend or save annually to improve the comfort. When investing hundreds of thousands on a window replacement, ensure you get the most out of your money. Some products are highly effective and will help to cut the heating and cooling costs significantly to make your home more comfortable. Nowadays, advancements in technology have led to precision-engineered window designs that help homeowners achieve their desired results. It’s now possible to get energy-efficient windows that meet your preferences and unique needs. Your area's climatic conditions will also affect the ideal window design to install to ensure better insulation and comfort in your home. Here are some of the window styles that can improve your property’s insulation: Double-Hung Windows These are traditional types and are found in many homes in different parts of the country, especially in pre-war buildings. With this type of window, the bottom slides up to open up the window. The units can be highly effective. However, they may not work as expected in extreme cases due to air intrusion between the sliders. Casement Windows The units are popular in areas that are prone to strong winds. The windows have a crank that swings them outward to open. If the wind blows towards a house, they seal themselves off tighter. One of the cons of using them is that they require maintenance on seals and hinges to retain their effectiveness. Picture Windows Usually, the units don’t open, and you can find a wide range of shapes and sizes. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are inefficient. Glass choices are crucial for these units. Other than the style, the frames also affect a window’s insulation properties. Improving the thermal resistance of the frames affects a window’s overall efficiency. All frame materials have e advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common materials include aluminum, fiberglass, vinyl, and wood. Although aluminum and other metal frames are strong and have low maintenance requirements, they conduct heat rapidly, making them poor insulation materials. Placing an insulating plastic cap between the inside and outside part of the frames and sash can help to reduce heat flow. On the other hand, fiberglass frames have cavities that you can fill with insulation. This makes them more effective than most materials. Vinyl frames also contain cavities that you can fill with insulation. Wood frames insulate relatively well but require proper maintenance from time to time. If you have noticed your energy bill increasing, it might be time to replace your windows for better insulation. You don’t need to be losing warm air due to inefficient windows. Consider some of the above window options to reap the most benefits.

In today's world, most people understand that recycling is an important part of preserving resources for future generations. A key part of recycling, though, is maintaining a market for recyclable materials so that recyclers have an incentive to continue recycling. To aid in this effort, manufacturers can use various recycled materials in their processes and products to create a better world, one sale at a time. Buy Machines Made From Recycled Metals One unique way to approach the concept of utilizing recycled materials is to ensure that the equipment used during manufacturing is made from recycled metals. Although some raw material may be needed to help increase the strength of your machines, quality recycled metal is often similar in quality to virgin metal. The key to making this an environmentally responsible approach, though, is to only replace your machines when they have reached the end of their life. Recycled Textiles Textiles aren't commonly associated with recycled materials. If your company operates in the textile industry, though, there are many different types of yarn and thread that have recycled plastics at their core. One such product, from bionicyarn.com, uses recycled plastics that are collected from marine and coastal environments, allowing you to directly contribute to the clean-up of ocean ecosystems. Recycled Cardboard Shipping your company's products to consumers can also contribute to your overall carbon footprint. Fortunately, you can use recycled materials during the shipping process, as well. Recycled cardboard is one of the easiest materials to get ahold of and often has a lower cost than its virgin counterpart. Just be sure to use a reputable supplier that truly offers recycled cardboard instead of marketing virgin cardboard as recycled cardboard. Excess Packaging as Filler During fulfillment, you're bound to create some excess packaging that has no practical use. However, if you have an industrial-grade shredder on site, you can use this excess packaging as filler in boxes that you ship. This filler can serve as protective packing material so that your products aren't damaged during shipment. Thus, you can ensure that your customers receive your products in great shape and that you help cut down on waste. A key part of utilizing recycled materials in your manufacturing processes is creativity. Sometimes, it's not immediately obvious how recycled materials can fit into your overall manufacturing strategy. If you work to think differently about how you utilize materials, though, you will likely find plenty of opportunities to incorporate recycled materials into your day-to-day operations.

Although your home should be designed to protect you and your family, it's great if it can help protect the environment, as well. While some eco-friendly repairs are easy to do yourself, other repairs and maintenance services need to be left to the professionals. If you know who to call to help take care of these repairs, you'll be well on your way to a more eco-friendly home. HVAC Technician Your HVAC system is one of your home's biggest energy users. It makes sense, then, that if you can get your HVAC system operating efficiently, it will make your home more eco-friendly. By calling a trusted HVAC technician to help repair and, more importantly, maintain your HVAC system, you can help lower your utility bills and reduce your HVAC system's environmental impact. Water Heater Technician Another major energy user in your home is your water heater. Unlike your HVAC system, which you may be able to turn off during certain seasons, your water heater runs year-round. While normal maintenance procedures, such as draining your water heater, can be done yourself, it's a good idea to call in professionals like those at ATWH when you have a problem with the water or gas supply on your unit. Insulation Installer If your home lacks proper insulation, it could have detrimental effects on the environment due to the increased energy usage. If it feels like you can never get your home warm or cool enough, then it's a good idea to have an insulation expert stop by your home to see if insulation needs to be added. Extra insulation can prevent your HVAC system from running as often because it helps to trap the conditioned air instead of allowing it to escape outside. Window Replacement Technician Old windows in your home are one of the biggest energy wasters of all. Even with adequate insulation, old windows with busted seals allow an easy exchange of inside and outside air, forcing your HVAC system to work much harder than it should. New windows, though, help to prevent this exchange of air, ensuring that your home stays comfortable. In addition, new windows are easier to raise and lower and usually have UV protection built-in so that your furniture isn't faded by the sun. A big part of improving your home's eco-friendliness is properly timing when you take care of certain needs around your home. While addressing urgent repairs is an important part of home maintenance, you don't want to do anything prematurely in a way that will waste resources. By timing repairs and replacements correctly, you will help to minimize your environmental impact and maximize the effectiveness of your investments.

Most people today want to be as energy efficient in their daily lives as possible. Not only is it good for the environment, but it also saves you money. However, there are many places where people use more energy than they need to, and one of those is in their homes. Here are four signs that you might be using more energy than necessary in your home. Your Energy Bills are Going Up One sure sign that you may be using more energy than you need to is higher energy bills. If your electric and gas bills keep rising and there doesn't seem to be a good explanation, such as a heatwave, then you might want to investigate. Check with your energy providers to see if they can provide any insight. If not, you might want to consider having an energy audit done on your home to look for places where you can improve efficiency. Your Systems Need Maintenance Often Another sign that you might be using too much energy is an excessive amount of maintenance. For example, does your air conditioning unit seem to need service a lot? If so, it could be that it is nearing the end of its useful life, but it also could be that it is running more than it needs to, leading to overuse and excessive maintenance needs. You Leave Lights and Appliances On One way people use too much energy is leaving lights, appliances and electrical devices on when they aren't using them or don't need them. To lower energy use, turn off all lights and unplug any electronic devices and appliances when they aren't in use. It's not practical for all appliances and devices; for example, you aren't going to unplug your microwave. But you can unplug your toaster, phone chargers, and other devices when not in use. Your Appliances are Old The older your appliances are, the more likely you are to be using too much energy in your home. Newer washers and dryers, refrigerators, and other electric appliances are much more energy efficient. If you have older appliances, you can cut your energy use and eventually save money by replacing them with newer ones. You don't have to keep using too much energy in your home. Following these tips to cut down on energy use will help you save money and cut your environmental footprint by a healthy amount.

The world's dumps continue to fill up quickly. Although the importance of recycling has been touted for years, many people still see it as too inconvenient to actually do it. In many cases, this attitude applies even to valuable waste, such as green waste. If all that you're lacking, though, is some inspiration about what to do with your green waste, here are a few ideas to help you make the most of this valuable resource. Compost It One of the best things that you can do with green waste is to turn it into compost right in your own backyard. Since green waste contains nutrients that plants love, you can use the compost you create as rich fertilizer that will help all types of plants thrive. Although composting requires a small upfront investment, it more than pays for itself over time since you don't have to buy fertilizer for your plants. Collect It If you don't have the space to compost green waste on your property, then you can collect it to be properly recycled by someone else. You can rent a skip bin to place your green waste in, which will then be carried away so that the green waste can be properly disposed of. This makes a great option if you have a sudden surge in green waste on your property, such as when a tree falls and needs to be cleaned up. Leave It in Place Depending on the type of green waste you're dealing with, you may be able to simply leave it in place to allow it to rot on its own. Essentially, this is composting without the need for special equipment. Grass clippings and leaves, for example, can easily be left on the ground and allowed to decompose to release their nutrients back into the soil. If you have a wooded property, larger waste materials, such as fallen trees, can also be left in place. Offer It to Others Green waste, at least in the form of trees, can provide many attractive options for disposal. If you chop-up a tree into a usable size, for example, you can use it yourself or offer it to others as firewood. If you have a chipper or shredder, you can turn the tree into mulch that you and others can use in gardens. By spreading around your green waste, you will reduce the likelihood that it will end up in a dump. When you plant any type of grass, shrub, or tree, it's important to consider its complete lifecycle. If you don't have a plan to properly dispose of these items when they're no longer viable, it's probably best not to plant them in the first place. This will reduce the waste that will occur at the end of their lifecycle and save you the time and effort of looking after them.

Most electronics can serve your needs even for years after their designs are outdated. However, some components in them may fail after long use, or you may need to update your equipment for personal and professional reasons. If you don't want excess machinery cluttering up your workspace, you can dispose of it. There are a few things you can do to ensure that you'll be able to discard everything safely. Wipe Personal Data Whether you're dealing with a cell phone, tablet, or laptop computer, you almost certainly have some personal information stored on the device you'd like to dump. This could be a bit of data stored in a single app or program, but it might still pose a security risk to you if it is recovered by the wrong people. It is best to go through some steps to wipe the data. Most devices have an option for a reset that entirely wipes the drives of any data you've saved. In many cases, a professional recycler will also check for data and wipe it for you as part of their services. Recycle Responsibly Recycling is a great option for getting rid of outdated electronics. These facilities have the tools necessary to get usable parts out of your equipment. Depending on what kinds of components are in the things you bring them, these electronics recycling companies may pay you some cash to take the stuff off your hands. Before you make a trip to one of these facilities, it is a good idea to check what items they definitely will not accept. Remove Batteries You should check any battery-powered devices and remove their power sources before tossing them. Some recycling facilities do not accept certain types of batteries. Rechargeable batteries are a popular option for most electronics. However, these kinds of components contain chemicals that are harmful to people and the environment. Create a Professional Action Plan A person may work for or run a business that is planning to upgrade its tech. If this is so, the company will probably look for ways to offload the old devices. Getting rid of outdated professional electronics can have a few more steps than personal devices. The company may have requirements already outlined, or it may need to follow industry guidelines to the letter. You can evaluate the logistic and legal costs of compliance in these areas. It may be tempting to toss your outmoded devices in the same bin as you do your regular trash, but that isn't the most efficient way to get rid of these things. There are also environmental concerns to take into consideration. If electronics are retired properly, certain industries may be able to put some of their parts back into use with new devices. If possible, obtain verification that your devices have undergone proper procedures. There may be regulations you have to follow in your area during this process.

Adding solar panels to your home can be a great way to reduce your utility costs and make a positive impact on the environment. Of course, unless you have enough land to install a solar array, the most obvious place to install solar panels is on your roof. Before you take this step, though, it's important to ensure that your roof is up to the task so that you can enjoy reliable power from your solar array for years to come. Ensure Proper Drainage Although solar panels can handle all types of weather, it's not good for them to sit for long periods of time in standing water. Therefore, it's vital to check your roof's drainage to make sure that any water that falls on your roof will quickly drain away. This is especially important if your home has a flat roof, since it doesn't have the advantage of a pitch to help it drain. No matter which type of roof you have, though, it's important to check your gutters to ensure they can properly remove water. Check Roof Integrity A large array of solar panels will add quite a bit of weight to your roof. Therefore, you need to make sure that your roof structure can support this extra weight. If you have roofing materials such as asphalt shingles and plywood sheathing, it's important to check for water damage to these materials before you begin installation of your solar array. If you notice any weak spots, you will need to work to replace these materials before installation can begin. Go With a New Roof Once your solar panels are installed, it will be very difficult to do any sort of repairs to your roof. Therefore, if you have an older roof, it's a good idea to have it replaced entirely before you install solar panels. If you install a new roof at the same time as you install new solar panels, they should both have about the same lifespan, leading to ease of maintenance and fewer problems. Take Some Measurements While solar panels are a great way to provide power to your home, it's important to understand exactly what type of benefits you can expect to receive from installing solar panels. The best way to do this is to measure your roof to determine how many solar panels can be installed on your roof. If you have a large, uninterrupted roof, you'll be able to install plenty of solar panels that will make your investment worthwhile. Solar panels represent a major upfront investment. Therefore, it's important to keep the big picture in mind when you decide to make this investment. If you only plan to stay in your current home for a few years, this investment might not be worth it. However, if the home you're in now is your "forever home," then it makes sense to power your home with solar energy.

One of the biggest burdens on the environment is the use of energy, and much of our energy consumption is directed at controlling indoor temperatures in the millions of homes, businesses, and other buildings that dot the landscape. Greater efficiency can be achieved with careful thermostat management, upgraded equipment, and good maintenance, but another big factor in energy efficiency is insulation. Here are four ways that you can help the environment by adding more insulation. Improve the Roof The main job of your roof is to turn away water, but it has insulating functions too. An aging roof will allow your attic to become colder with a buildup of snow and ice, creating a cold blanket that rests on top of your entire house and forcing you to use more energy to keep the living space comfortable. With an upgraded roof, accumulated winter precipitation will not pull heat away from the inside. If your roof is old and has several missing shingles, a full roof replacement might be necessary. Insulate the Attic One sure sign of a lack of insulation is when there is no snow on your roof. If the attic is warm enough to keep the roof from freezing, the attic is being warmed up by heat leaking into it from the living space. Get to work right away on adding a new layer of insulation throughout the entire attic, or at least on targeting areas where there are obvious gaps in the existing insulation. Upgrade Your Windows This is a bigger job, but it will be well worth it in the long run. Older homes with wooden window frames or single-pane glass will lose a large amount of heat through the windows. Those windows are also harder to open, clean, and lock than modern windows. An upgrade to new windows and doors around the entire house will improve security and appearance while making a big improvement to your energy bill. Insulating the Crawl Space and Basement So many times, we forget to pay attention to what is going on under the house. If you have a finished basement, it's likely well-insulated and performing efficiently. An unfinished basement or a crawl space may be a very different story. Make sure that there is insulation between the floor joists, especially where they rest on the sill plate at each end. Close crawlspace vents each fall. You might also place a piece of insulation in each one. The better you insulate your home, the less energy it uses. The results you see can inspire neighbors and friends to do likewise, eventually creating a big positive impact on the environment.

Ways to reduce water waste is something that every homeowner should consider, to save you money, reduce your carbon footprint, and to maintain your property. Water waste is often something that goes unnoticed for a period of time because it happens in areas where we are not easily able to access. With just a couple adjustments and the help of a plumber, you can easily reduce the water waste in your home. These are a few plumbing upgrades to make in your home for reducing water waste. Install Low Flow Shower Heads Low flow shower heads are easy upgrades to make on your own and affordable too. An average shower uses over fifteen gallons of water, but when you switch to a low flow shower head you end up using about seventy percent less water during the average shower. Reduce the Water Pressure Reducing the water pressure to your household is a great way to reduce the amount of water you use at any one time. Most homeowners are huge fans of high water pressure, which is often used as an indicator of good plumbing. However, by reducing the water pressure you become more conscious of how much water you are using and the amount wasted is significantly reduced. Check for Leaks A huge part of water waste happens out of sight, in areas where we don't even know water is being lost. Check your home and property for water leaks which occur over time as plumbing decays. A plumber is able to perform this role and can end up saving you both money and prevent damage that is being done to your property. Replace Older Appliances and Fixtures Older appliances and fixtures are often sources of leaks and water waste. Not only are these new appliances more energy efficient, but they are better put together and require less resources to operate. Older fixtures are also known to become damaged after time and spring leaks within the mechanisms. Insulate Your Pipes As colder weather sets in, it takes longer for hot water to reach the faucet and this is often made longer when the pipes in your home are not insulated. Insulating your pipes is easy and cheap, and it can mean the difference between a significant or a small amount of water waste occurring every single day. Reducing water waste in your home is much easier than you think and should each of these tips should be reassessed every year.

When it comes to living a sustainable lifestyle, it's the activities you do every day that tend to be more important than the big and impressive things you do. That's why it's important to find ways to make your everyday activities more sustainable. The good news is that making your lifestyle more sustainable doesn't have to cause major inconveniences. In fact, there are many aspects of sustainable living that are more enjoyable than their non-sustainable counterparts. Compost If you have the space, composting is an excellent way to live a sustainable lifestyle. Rather than sending organic waste to the dump, you can keep it on your property and turn it into rich fertilizer for your garden. Even if you live in a city, you can use a desktop composting bin to create smaller amounts of compost that you can use in a window box or herb garden. Buy Products Made From Recycled Materials Recycling is a key component of creating a healthier planet for future generations. In order to support recycling efforts, though, it's important to buy products made from recycled materials as often as possible. Without a solid market for products made from recycled materials, companies will be forced to use virgin materials, which typically have a more significant impact on the environment. You can find ways to buy recycled materials, like dog toys or yarn from a site like bionicyarn.com. Combine Errands Although vehicles make everyday tasks much more convenient, they add a significant amount of pollution to the atmosphere. While the best response to this problem is to buy a car that gets better gas mileage, that isn't always feasible. A more simple solution is to be more careful about planning your errands so that you can reduce the amount you drive, thus reducing your carbon footprint. Collect Rainwater Water is one of the most vital resources in terms of completing everyday activities around your home. Since water is a limited resource, though, it's important to conserve it whenever possible. One great way to overcome this problem is to collect rainwater as it leaves your home's gutters. Using rain collection barrels, you can ensure that you always have water available to water your plants and do other outdoor tasks. This will help lower your water bill and ensure that there's water available for future generations. One reason that people pollute more than they should is that they simply fall into a rut and don't think through their actions. By continuing to do things the way you've always done them, you will likely use more energy and create more pollution than you would if you took some time to observe your actions. By thinking through the things you do every day, you can begin to search for new ways to do these things so that you can help make the world a better place.

You already do your part for the environment by choosing energy-efficient appliances and reusable household goods, but have you considered the environmental footprint of your home's plumbing system? The top four plumbing issues that can wreak havoc on the ecosystem include water wastage, overuse of water, chemical pollution and garbage accumulation from discarded plumbing materials. If you want to green up your pipes, here are four simple ways to counteract these problems. Lower Your Flow One of the easiest and most effective ways to curb water wastage in your home is to install low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets. Are you worried about getting all the shampoo out of your hair? Today's low-flow technology is miles ahead of those trickling faucets you remember, so you won't even notice the difference. The best part is that reducing water wastage not only helps save the environment but also saves money on your monthly utility bills. Recycle Greywater Overusing water resources is a growing problem, and outdoor usage, such as watering your lawn or garden, accounts for between 30 and 60 percent of household water usage. However, you don't have to say goodbye to your lush lawn if you want to save water. Use water that would have otherwise been discarded to water your grass or garden with a greywater recycling system. Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners What do you do when your drain is clogged? If you're like most people, you reach for a bottle of drain cleaner. Although drain cleaners can bust up clogs quickly, the harsh chemicals they contain end up in lakes and streams where they can upset the PH balance and poison wildlife. Most plumbers recommend trying natural methods like baking soda or a plastic pipe snake to bust up a clog and calling in the professionals if that doesn't work. Choose Eco-friendly Materials The pipes that carry water to your faucets and fixtures can also cause a problem for Mother Nature when they wear out and get discarded. If you're installing new plumbing, choose materials that are durable and recyclable. Although the price tag is high, you can't do better than copper pipe. Not only does copper last forever, but it's also recyclable and better for your health than plastics, which often contain potentially harmful chemicals like BPA. Remember, keeping your plumbing in good condition is also essential for protecting the ecosystem. Poorly maintained pipes can leak and waste water or contaminate important water sources like groundwater, lakes and streams. Most importantly, be aware of how much water you are using as well as what you are flushing down your drains.