Have you ever thought of opting for eco-friendly ways to keep your house warm?

There are some eco-friendly ideas, which are so simple that they will make you wonder, why on earth you have not been using them already.  You get the same warm, toasty feeling and yet, it doesn’t cost you too much. Here are five very simple and effective eco-friendly tips that you could use this winter.

1. Seal those leaky windows- Make use of heavy curtains to keep the heat inside the house. You can also get weather stripping for the windows, so that the heat that is trapped inside the house does not escape. You might be surprised to find how cozy and warm your room can get without any kind of heating.

2. The Energy Star- If you have never paid attention to the energy star ratings, now is a good time to start. Energy star ratings are meant to help the customers understand, how energy efficient the appliances really are. Energy star ratings can be found on various appliances like boilers, heaters, furnaces and heat pumps (used for central heating). So the next time you plan to purchase an appliance, check the energy star rating.

3. Use a smaller heating system- Depending on the size of your home, go for a heating solution that is not too large. Even a single space heater can do wonders. So bear this in mind, while shopping for your heater.

4. Set the thermostat lower- When you are out in the cold and then come inside, you might want to turn up the thermostat of the heater. Resist the temptation, and remember that every degree on your thermostat, accounts for about 10 percent of your energy requirements for heating. Use a jumper or a sweater instead, and switch down your thermostat by a few degrees.

5. Soil, the natural insulator- You stand and walk on a natural insulator all the time, and might not even be aware of it. Soil is a great natural insulator and so, make use of this property to keep your homes warm during winter. Go in for geothermal heat pumps. In a geothermal heating system, liquid is circulated through pipes that run beneath the home through the soil. With time the liquid gets warmer, which is then pumped to a heat condenser. The heat condenser uses the liquid’s heat in running the central heating system of your home.

These are just five simple tips that can help you have an eco-friendly winter. Get creative and you will come up with many more eco-friendly options.

Green living encompasses several green concepts and components. When you decide to go green, you need to do whatever it is that you can, to protect the environment. You need to recycle all your waste, eat organic foods, wear clothes that are eco-friendly and minimize your overall ecological footprint.

Fundamentals of Green Living

Going green also means reducing energy consumption, and choosing renewable energy resources as opposed to fossil fuels. To make use of wind and solar energy, you need to invest money in the equipment that can use these resources instead of electricity. If you live in sunny areas, you will have to install solar panels on your roof, which is not inexpensive. You will have to substitute your top loading washing machine, with a machine that does not waste as much water and power. Yes, these lifestyle changes do cost money, but for anyone who is serious about going green, the prime objective is to choose eco-friendly options.

A Closer Look at Unfriendly Cleaning Products

You might be surprised to know that the cleaning products that we use, are some of the highest sources of pollutants from our homes. Liquid cleansers contaminate the water, when they are used in the sink or toilets. Spraying air fresheners contaminates the air, as it releases chemicals into the air. The chemical cleansers that we wipe onto paper towels finally end up in landfills. They then contaminate the ground water and the soil. If you decide to go green, you need to make use of biodegradable cleansing products.

Once you stop using the chemical cleansers, the harm that you were causing to the environment will be drastically reduced. Biodegradable products don’t pollute the waterways, and help protect all the life that is supported by that water body. Stop purchasing products that can cause harm to the environment. You can lead a comfortable life and still do your part in protecting the planet. Guide by example, so that others get inspired to lead a green life too.

Baby Steps Towards Going Green

There are several other measures that you can take to go green. They may cost you little or no money, but they will help the environment a whole lot. Try to recycle everything that you dispose off as garbage, and try to repair products that you can. Buy food items that do not have too much packaging. In fact, there are several fruit markets that make use of recyclable wrap. So it would be a great idea to buy items from such places. Reduce air pollution by driving your automobile less. This will help you save money, and protect the environment too.

Making lifestyle changes is always a little difficult. But if you decide to choose the green path, you will do whatever it takes to go green.

The Effects of the Environment on Babies

Babies have very sensitive skin and are prone to rashes. Their immune system is also weaker than that of adults and so, extra care has to be taken while selecting baby products.  Catherine Cervasio, the founder of Aromababy, says that anything that is applied on the skin can get absorbed into the bloodstream. Thus, such products can be responsible for rashes.

Products that are derived from petro-chemicals, (e.g. mineral oil), are said to decrease the skin’s natural ability to breathe. Cervasio believes that in case of babies, a more natural approach to personal hygiene needs to be followed. You should not bathe a child too frequently, and it’s best to use non-commercial products for babies.

Precious Products

The clothes and bedding for babies should be made of natural fabrics. This will ensure that the baby is not exposed to harmful chemicals and dyes unnecessarily. Dyes and chemicals can cause allergies in young babies, so it’s best to avoid them. Toys that are made of wood and cloth are great for toddlers. Plastic toys last longer, but they are made from petrochemicals. Some of these toys may contain polyvinyl chloride, which releases harmful fumes. Why subject your baby to such harmful chemicals, when you can prevent this by using toys that are made of natural materials.

You CAN “Green” Your Baby Food

Food is yet another area where you can go green, while raising your baby. The safest and best food for a baby is breast milk. It is more nutritious for the infant, and you also eliminate all the packaging that baby food would come in. Andrew Radford, a member of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, believes that if every US infant was bottle-fed, about 86,000 tonnes of tin plate would be needed for 550 million discarded formula tins. Not to forget the fact that formula needs to be heated up, resulting in increased energy consumption.

Green Cleaning & Your Baby

When you have toddlers and infants at home, you are automatically conscious about germs. So most parents tend to sterilize, bleach and sanitize everything that the baby may touch. Why not use natural cleansers? Vinegar and soda bicarbonate do a great job, and they also reduce the unnecessary exposure to chemicals. There are several other eco-friendly green products that your baby can benefit from, and you can find a listing of such products on the Green Pages green directory.

Eco-friendly parents can pass down their green lifestyle to their young ones. So choose to raise a ‘green baby’ from day one. Chances are, your baby will grow up to be an eco-friendly, environmentally conscious adult. After all, all the eco-friendly measures that we adopt today are aimed at leaving a healthier, greener and better environment for our kids.

Understanding Solar Energy

Solar energy is an extremely popular renewable energy source, especially in sunny areas. Solar energy systems make use of sun’s rays/solar power to generate electricity. This is a great option if you want to go green, and stop using fossil fuels like coal, petroleum etc.

A large part of solar energy is absorbed by water bodies. It is critical to sustain life, since it is used by plants to carry out photosynthesis.

Nowadays, people have started using solar panels, which convert solar power into electrical energy. This energy can then be used to power various appliances at home. Solar panels can also convert solar energy into heat energy, which can be used to heat water. The heated water can be used in boiler systems and for geothermal heating of homes. Solar cookers convert solar energy into heat energy, which is then used for cooking food. They can also be used to boil water and milk. Solar cookers can produce temperatures in the range of 90 to 150 degrees Celsius.

A Closer Look At Wind Energy

Wind energy involves harnessing the power of wind to generate power. It is an eco-friendly option, since it does not cause any pollution, nor does it make use of any fossil fuels. In regions of the world which are very windy, wind turbines have been built. These wind turbines convert wind energy to kinetic energy, and this kinetic energy is then converted into electrical energy.

The electrical energy that is generated can then be used to power residential areas, as well as industries. Vertical axis wind turbines have become extremely popular now, and all you need to do is point them in the direction of the wind. By doing this you can convert wind energy into electrical energy, which can take care of your home’s electricity needs. Home based wind energy systems normally consist of a wind turbine and a generator. The wind turbine and generator are mounted atop a tall tower. Controls and other associated equipments are located in cabins.

How Wind Energy Can Power Your Home

There are three types of wind energy systems, which can be used to power your homes. The first one is called ‘Off-Grid’/'Stand Alone’ system. If your house is not connected to the grid, you will use the power that is generated by this system. Then there is the ‘Grid-Tied’/'On Grid’ system. This comes with a battery back up and so, you can store the energy, which can then be used in case of power outages. In this system, electricity is supplied to your home using power grid as well as wind energy system. The third system is called the ‘Grid-Tied’/'On Grid system without battery back up’. This is identical to the second type of system, but does not have any battery back up. Thus, in case of power outage you won’t have any stored power.

If you want to truly go green, remember that solar and wind energy are two of the cleanest green energy options that you have. They are renewable and don’t cause any sort of pollution.