Green Tips: Winter Edition

A Green Reminder For The Colder Months

The air is turning colder, the days are getting shorter, and people are putting away their Halloween decorations.  That can only mean one thing- winter is right around the corner!  If you are interested in living a green life, you might think that it is tough to conserve energy in the winter.  While it can be a challenge, it is possible!  Below are a few tips to serve as a reminder for staying "green" this winter:

1. Check your thermostat:

No one wants to go through winter cold!  However, there are certain ways to reduce the amount of energy used on heat.  Don't forget to program your thermostat to a reasonable temperature.  While 80 degrees might sound enjoyable on especially frigid days- your home will still be toasty set to 70.  Also, a lot of thermostats now have programmable, energy saving, settings on them; investing in one will ensure that you are living the greenest (and warmest) way possible!

2.  Turn off unnecessary lights:

With the days getting shorter, it might be instinctual to turn on as many lamps and other lights the second it gets dark outside.  Turning on unnecessary lights are a huge drain of energy, so try to only turn on the light in the room where you spend time.  Lamps also drain energy even if they are not on, but plugged into the outlet.  Try to unplug lamps and other light sources after you are done with them.

3. Keep your showers and baths short:

Water heaters are appliances that use energy too!  Even if you live in an apartment and do not have a personal water heater, it is still important to keep in mind that even though an hour long hot bath after scraping ice off your car sounds like a good idea, probably everyone else might want to do the same.  Try to reduce energy and promote eco-friendliness by sticking to showers and keeping them short.

These tips were found in the article "Fall and Winter Energy-Savings Tips" on energy.gov, read the article posted on the Department of Energy website.

Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more about Grady Management on our website or Facebook page.