There are numerous ways to save water and energy at home. They range from turning off the lights to recycling clean water. But the question is, are they helpful? Well, every step you take to save energy and water helps you save money and conserve the environment. Let’s find out more about how you can save energy and water at home as a parent.

Seal Door Drafts and Windows

In the United States, natural gas is the second most heavily consumed energy source. Because of this, it is crucial to seal your door drafts and window shades during the day to save gas energy used in heating and cooling your house. It works by keeping sunlight out when the outside is too hot, thus keeping your house cool. In winter, you can do the opposite to let in sunlight and keep your house warmer.

Consider a Smart Thermostat

If you have an old thermostat, consider upgrading to a smart one. Smart thermostats minimize energy consumption by automatically turning off when it’s not needed. This kind of thermostat can save you up to $180 per year. The best thing is that it notifies you when its air filters need a replacement for better performance and efficient energy use.

Energy-efficient windows can also work best for cooling your house depending on its location and the architectural design of your house. For example, if your home is based in a cold area, you can use gas-powered windows to reduce heating expenses. Also, always ensure that your thermostat is off when you’re away from the house.

Watch Your Water Usage

How you use water while in the house determines how much water you save annually. It doesn’t matter if it’s water for brushing your teeth or flushing the toilet. Even the smallest drop counts. Watching your water usage is like learning how to place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to where the gums and teeth meet when you brush your teeth. That is how you can save money just like you save your teeth and gums from destruction.

There are various ways you can save water. First off, consider upgrading to a dual-flush toilet. This is an affordable choice that boasts of the mainstream. It can save you up to $13-$21 annually and up to 20% of water.

You can also try to spend fewer minutes in the shower to save a few gallons of water. Or, reduce the number of times you shower in a week. Alternatively, you can invest in a low-flow showerhead that has a flow rate of less than 3 GPM.

Reconsider Your Laundry Habits

Another great way of saving water and energy is reconsidering your laundry habits. If you have a habit of heating water for washing your clothes, you can drop it to save energy. Cold water works fine and cleans your clothes well.

Also, if it’s sunny outside, you can avoid machine drying your clothes by air-drying outside on a clothesline to save energy. If you have time, you can consider handwashing your dishes instead of using a dishwasher to save water and energy as well.

Replace Your Light Bulbs

Light bulbs play a major role in energy conservation. Consider replacing your light bulbs with energy-saving ones. You will not only save money but also help conserve the environment by curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Steel is the most recycled material in the world with a recycling rate of 90%. Yet, a single bulb switch can make a big difference in energy savings as well. This means if you encourage your neighbors and friends to switch to energy-saving devices and tools, much energy would be saved throughout your community, too.

Now that you are familiar with ways to save energy and water, you can go ahead and implement them in your home. This will make the entire environment happy. Feel free to share ideas with your neighbors and family members as well.

There are numerous ways to save water and energy at home. They range from turning off the lights to recycling clean water. But the question is, are they helpful? Well, every step you take to save energy and water helps you save money and conserve the environment. Let’s find out more about how you can save energy and water at home as a parent.

Seal Door Drafts and Windows

In the United States, natural gas is the second most heavily consumed energy source. Because of this, it is crucial to seal your door drafts and window shades during the day to save gas energy used in heating and cooling your house. It works by keeping sunlight out when the outside is too hot, thus keeping your house cool. In winter, you can do the opposite to let in sunlight and keep your house warmer.

Consider a Smart Thermostat

If you have an old thermostat, consider upgrading to a smart one. Smart thermostats minimize energy consumption by automatically turning off when it’s not needed. This kind of thermostat can save you up to $180 per year. The best thing is that it notifies you when its air filters need a replacement for better performance and efficient energy use.

Energy-efficient windows can also work best for cooling your house depending on its location and the architectural design of your house. For example, if your home is based in a cold area, you can use gas-powered windows to reduce heating expenses. Also, always ensure that your thermostat is off when you’re away from the house.

Watch Your Water Usage

How you use water while in the house determines how much water you save annually. It doesn’t matter if it’s water for brushing your teeth or flushing the toilet. Even the smallest drop counts. Watching your water usage is like learning how to place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to where the gums and teeth meet when you brush your teeth. That is how you can save money just like you save your teeth and gums from destruction.

There are various ways you can save water. First off, consider upgrading to a dual-flush toilet. This is an affordable choice that boasts of the mainstream. It can save you up to $13-$21 annually and up to 20% of water.

You can also try to spend fewer minutes in the shower to save a few gallons of water. Or, reduce the number of times you shower in a week. Alternatively, you can invest in a low-flow showerhead that has a flow rate of less than 3 GPM.

Reconsider Your Laundry Habits

Another great way of saving water and energy is reconsidering your laundry habits. If you have a habit of heating water for washing your clothes, you can drop it to save energy. Cold water works fine and cleans your clothes well.

Also, if it’s sunny outside, you can avoid machine drying your clothes by air-drying outside on a clothesline to save energy. If you have time, you can consider handwashing your dishes instead of using a dishwasher to save water and energy as well.

Replace Your Light Bulbs

Light bulbs play a major role in energy conservation. Consider replacing your light bulbs with energy-saving ones. You will not only save money but also help conserve the environment by curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Steel is the most recycled material in the world with a recycling rate of 90%. Yet, a single bulb switch can make a big difference in energy savings as well. This means if you encourage your neighbors and friends to switch to energy-saving devices and tools, much energy would be saved throughout your community, too.

Now that you are familiar with ways to save energy and water, you can go ahead and implement them in your home. This will make the entire environment happy. Feel free to share ideas with your neighbors and family members as well.

If you are looking for an enjoyable activity to do with your family, camping should be ideal. Nothing beats being engulfed by the peace and quiet of nature while you bond with those that you love. According to research, going on a camping trip should reduce your stress significantly. Being removed from the pressures of your everyday life not only boosts your mood but should also reduce the triggers of your stress by replacing them with the therapeutic effects of nature.

While this activity is a fun way to relax, there are still dangers that you should ensure that you avoid. Keep on reading to find out more about how you can make your next camping trip safe and enjoyable for you and your loved ones.

1. Choose The Right Location

The most obvious thing should be to choose a location that you will enjoy. You should research your campsite to see what it has to offer. This should help you to determine what kind of difficulties you may encounter on your trip. If you are a parent, and you are camping with your children, you should ensure that the camping site that you choose is safe. This also includes what type of camping gear you bring with you.

It is essential to find out the type of terrain that the location has. This will help you ascertain the type of safety precautionary measures that you should take to ensure that your trip is safe and enjoyable.

If you and your family love to go on adventures in the woods, you should make sure to bring the right gear. You should have more than enough food and water ready. Invest in a waterproof and rip-resistant range backpack. Remember that you and your family will be going through uneven terrain, and there may be times when rain or dirt gets on your bag. By investing in a waterproof and rip-resistant range backpack, you and your family can go on adventures without worrying about your supplies. Aside from supplies, you should also bring fire-starting gear and a poncho to protect yourself from the rain.

2. Know The Weather Conditions

Part of avoiding danger by picking the right location involves knowing the type of weather conditions at your prospective camping site. Weather can change when you least expect it. This is why staying up-to-date with the weather forecast before you leave is essential. You should know how to pack for the right kind of weather. To be proactive, you should always plan. This should also help you to stay safe as you should be better prepared for any possible weather.

3. Take Care Of Your Health

Knowing how to avoid water-related illnesses and injuries is important when you are camping. The water that you use can affect your health, so staying healthy and safe with what interacts with your body is important. Part of taking care of your health involves knowing if there are any urgent medical care services available where you will be camping.

Urgent care facilities are a preferred choice amongst many people. In a study, 22% of patients chose urgent care services over conventional medical care facilities on the assumption that it would decrease their wait time. With 21% citing convenience as their reason for opting for urgent care. You should ensure that you can access these services at your convenience when you go camping.

4. Know What To Avoid

It goes without saying that staying away from wild animals is important. You should also avoid touching any plants that you don’t know. Many plants are poisonous and can be found almost anywhere. For instance, poison ivy is found in every state except for Alaska and Hawaii. More than 85% of people are allergic to this plant. Make sure that you have topical creams to apply should you accidentally come into contact with a poisonous plant.

5. Practice Campfire Safety

Seventy-eight percent of campers cook outdoors when camping. Campfire safety tips are essential to avoid any injury when you are cooking or sitting around the fire. Using a firepit should help to keep your fire small and contained. Keeping a water bucket nearby should help you to put the fire out once you are done to prevent any fire damage.

The Bottom Line

When you go camping it is important to prepare yourself and your loved ones for the trip. This includes choosing the right location, taking care of your health, and practicing fire safety measures among other things that you can do. Proper safety precautions are essential to enjoy your trip.

Driving can be a concern for a parent with children of any age. Of course, whether that child is the driver or only a passenger, safety is always a parent’s main concern. After all, around 50,000 Americans die annually on the highway. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you are following every safety precaution possible, including these for summer.

Be Aware of Distracted Drivers

To an extent, distracted drivers exist year round. After all, people will use their phones and play their music too loud regardless of the season. Unfortunately, however, during the summer time the amount of distracted drivers goes up. After all, you have tourists who don’t know where their exit is or where they’re going. RV drivers, who can drive to over 16,000 private and public campground around the country, are out driving in vehicles that they’re not used to driving on a daily basis and come with built-in distractions.

Distracted driving leads to accidents. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of all the potential distractions to other drivers, while also remaining focused as the driver.

Know the Weather

Weather tends to change rapidly during the summer months. One minute the sun is out, and the weather is great, but the next a storm has rolled in. Depending on where you live, these storms can be devastating. Roads become slick and difficult to manage. Heavy rain makes it hard to see out of your windshield and wind can physically push cars on the road. Unfortunately, with this summer weather comes a lot of car accidents that you need to be aware of and keep your family safe from.

Watch Out for Trucks

There are around 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States, some of whom are long haul drivers while others travel much shorter distances. In either case, they can make driving on the roads near them incredibly difficult. Seeing around them is almost impossible, including the color of streetlights and other cars on the highway. There are also a lot of distracted truck drivers out there, who have been driving for extremely long periods of time. This means they’re often tired and just trying to get to where they’re going. It can cause accidents, which is just another reason to be aware of and careful around trucks on the road.

Be Aware of Your Vision

Obviously, making sure that your eyesight is good is important to safe driving. If your vision becomes blurry, see an eye doctor and don’t get behind the wheel, because you may need glasses. If you do already need glasses, you can’t drive. It’s simply not safe. However, there are times when your eyes can cause issues for you even if you don’t need glasses. For instance, in the summer, glare from the sun can be blinding and cause issues for drivers. Furthermore, driving for an extended period of time can cause eye strain that will make you less safe on the road. So, pay attention to your eyes when you drive.

Know and Understand the Calendar

Throughout the summer, there are certain times when drinking and driving are, unfortunately, more common. For instance, holiday weekends and Independence Day often see an uptick in people making poor decisions. So, to keep everyone in your family safe, be aware of these times and places that see an increase in overindulgence in drinking.

Of course, there are plenty of other things to be concerned about when it comes to driving. That’s why it’s so important to stay constantly vigilant and aware of your surroundings on the road.

We are quite lucky to be living during times when technology keeps making life easier. With all the fascinating innovations around us, now is the best time to start living greener. Those minor but necessary eco-friendly changes in our behavior might just be what’s needed to significantly impact the earth.

If you want to be more energy-efficient, here are some low-cost tips and changes you can make for a greener home.

Seal and Insulate Your Home

One of the most effective ways to make your home a lot more comfortable and to save energy is to insulate your home. This is a cost-effective move that can improve your indoor air quality and help you lower your energy bills. There are major areas in your home that you have to focus on eliminating leaks, and the roof is one such area. If you choose the right roofing material, you can lower your home’s energy consumption by about 30%.

The following are other places where leakages can take place:

• Electrical outlets
• Mail slots
• Window frames
• Around pipes and wires
• Attic hatches

Ensure that all these areas are properly insulated, and you will make huge strides towards making your home more energy-efficient. About 30% of all the leakage in your home occurs via doors and windows. You should seal the edges of windows and doors with caulk. It is quite affordable, and it won’t leave a dent in your finances.

Check Your Home for Leaks

Hot air has a tendency to rise. Therefore, air will most likely leak from areas that are high, like the attic. You need to check areas where the walls meet the attic door and in dropped ceiling walls. To find out the exact spots where the leakage takes place, check where the insulation is darkened. This shows that some dusty air is being filtered outside.

When it’s cold, you can spot areas where leakage is occurring by checking for frost on the insulation. Frost occurs when warm, moist air hits the cold attic air and freezes. This frost will also leave stains that you might not notice during warmer weather.

Other areas to check are around plumbing pipes and where electrical wires enter your home. Ensure that you properly cover these areas with insulation material. If you cannot properly check for leakage in your home, you can hire an energy auditor to assess your house and recommend all the necessary fixes.

Be Responsible With Appliance and Electronic Usage

Energy efficiency is fast becoming a trend nowadays. Approximately 48% of people looking to buy new homes indicate they are most interested in energy efficiency above all other factors. If you are interested in making your home energy efficient as well, electrical appliances are one area to watch closely. They account for almost 20% of the energy usage in your home.

The following are some tips that can help you reduce the amount of energy used by your appliances:

• Keep freezers and refrigerators away from the stove or any other heat-emitting appliances, like dishwashers and washing machines. Also, try to make sure you do not position them where they are exposed to direct sunlight. This will reduce the energy needed for them to remain cool.
• Shut down all appliances that are not in use. This includes TVs, computers, and radios.
• Buy ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. They are more energy-efficient and can reduce your energy bills significantly.
• Remove phone and laptop chargers from the sockets if they are not in use. They consume energy even if the device is not connected.

Consider Your Water Waste

There are several things you can do in your home to reduce your water waste. The first obvious step is to reduce the amount of water you use. You can install low-flow showerheads, shut off unnecessary running water, and avoid running half loads in the washing machine. This is not an exhaustive list, so you can keep on researching and finding ways to lower the water usage in your home.

Shop Small and Follow the Three Rs

One other way to go green is to shop your way to a healthier planet. Try to follow the three Rs in your home: reduce, reuse, and recycle. There are around 28 million small businesses in the United States, and all of them want you to buy their products or services. As much as you want to rush to take advantage of every promotion, the fact is that you can’t buy everything. Try to make the most of what you already have before you buy more. And when you do need to buy something, buy from a locally owned place rather than a big box store.

Below are some ways you can implement the three Rs in your home:

• Reduce. Buy goods that don’t need a lot of packaging to lower the amount of waste you produce.
• Reuse. Avoid single-use bags and mugs. Instead, when traveling, carry with you a water bottle or a stylish cup that you can reuse.
• Recycle. Contribute towards the recycling of paper, plastic, glass, magazines, and electronics.

Homeowners who invest their time into being more energy-efficient usually find out that they get lower bills and save more money. Therefore, being energy efficient will not only save the planet, but it will also benefit you, your family, and your wallet.