Talking About Green

You have no doubt realized that the holidays are a major source of upset around your home.  Not only are there friends and relatives tramping in and out unexpectedly, but you are likely feeling the crunch as your utility bills skyrocket.  And while you certainly want your home to be warm and inviting to guests, you also want it to be friendly to the Earth.  Somewhere between jacking up the thermostat, baking like a fiend, and additional electricity and water usage, you need to find a way to make sure you’re not wasting a lot of resources, boosting your bills, and damaging the planet during this joyous season.  So here are a few ways to make your home a little more eco-friendly and put a cap on your hemorrhaging bank account in the meantime.

1. Check seals.  One of the worst offenders when it comes to household waste is leaky seals around the house.  Before the colder weather hits, hire a specialist to come in and check seals around doors, windows, and other cracks that might allow heat to escape.  Then you can have them properly sealed so that when you turn on the furnace you’re not paying to heat the outdoors.
2. Toss pollutants.  Your home is no doubt full of harmful chemical pollutants, first and foremost being household cleaning solvents.  Since you’ll likely be doing quite a bit of tidying up between guests, why not try some green cleaning solutions instead (which use natural ingredients instead of chemicals).  Not only will you do something nice for the planet, you will also improve the air quality in your home to the benefit of family and friends.
3. Conserve electricity.  Whenever possible, turn off lights and unplug electronics.  This could significantly reduce the amount of electricity you use and help to keep your utility bill low.  Opt instead for soy candles in scents of the season to create a warm ambience and set the mood for the holidays.  Of course, installing alternative energy-gathering devices (solar panels, for example) is the best possible way to cut energy usage, and in some cases, you can even recoup some of the initial cost by selling excess energy back to the power company.
4. Cut water usage.  More guests means more flushing, washing, and water usage in general.  So consider installing low-flow toilets (you can usually get a partial refund if you send a copy of the receipt to your local DWP), aerated faucets and shower heads (which can conserve a lot of water while still keeping your spray strong), and a water filter for guests who get thirsty (instead of buying bottled water).
5. Plan for guests.  You know you’re going to be doing a lot of cooking, which means many trips to the store and a lot more use of your stove.  By planning ahead, you can save in many ways.  For starters, making lists of the items you want to cook can allow you to buy in bulk and make fewer trips to the store (less cost and lower carbon emissions).  From there, you can set up a couple of baking days for cookies, cakes, and casseroles to stock up your freezer.  Get multiple items cooking at once to cut back on stove usage and you’ll save a lot of time by having pre-cooked meals waiting when relatives show up.

Sarah Danielson is a writer for Seduction where you can find great tips and advice about the art of seducing your partner.