While making a completely green house would probably require a major remodeling project and thousands of dollars, there are tons of small things you can do to better your home and protect the environment in the process.

Insulating the basement, attic and crawl spaces will ensure that you spend less money on electricity and gas to maintain optimal indoor temperatures. This also means less emissions going into the environment.

Installing lots of windows. One structural change that won’t cost you much but will save electricity is to have more windows put in, so you can take advantage of the light and the warmth of the sun coming in. Make sure you choose windows coated to protect against temperature changes.

Leave surfaces unfinished whenever possible. This will reduce the amount of formaldehyde and other chemicals in the area.

When possible, install containers outdoor to capture rain water. You can do this using a 50-gallon barrel, a cistern or even a fountain. You can use the water to water plants or to clean outdoor spaces. It will save on your water bill and conserve energy.

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Save money by buying our home moving kits that contain all the packing supplies that you will need.

Whether you’re trying to save money or looking for ways to make your home greener, making your home more energy-efficient is a great idea. Despite what you may think, most of the things that can save you tons of money in the long run are actually cheap and easy to implement.

• Defrost your freezer or consider switching to a frost-free one.
• Keep the freezer as full as possible, since that makes better use of the space and saves electricity.
• Only run machines when they’re full: this goes for the dishwasher and the laundry.
• Make sure the door on your kitchen appliances close properly so there is no leak or energy waste. This includes the oven, refrigerator, toaster oven and microwave.
• Wash your clothes in cold water if they’re not too stained.
• The dryer is pretty much the only appliance that shouldn’t be too full when you run it because it actually spends more energy that way. So load it halfway and make sure the clothes have enough space inside to turn, so they can dry faster.
• Turn everything off if you’re going away on vacation.
• Fix leaks, dripping faucets and toilet tanks that never get full. Even a few drops a day amount to a lot of water over the course of a year.
• Close up any window or door openings so there is no heat escaping or cold wind coming in during the winter. Then lower the thermostat a couple of degrees and use an extra blanket.
• Use low-flow showerheads.

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