What do McDonald’s, Dell, Bank of America, and Honda have in common? As it turns out, they are taking the lead at the corporate level this year incorporating eco-friendly practices and finding ways to go green. They are modeling something on very large scale. But what about the average person? Have you ever wondered how to go green? Or maybe you want to take a few steps back and learn what it means to go green before you take your first action steps.
There is no agreed upon definition of going green. In general however, we talk about things like sustainability, energy efficiency, reducing, reusing, and recycling. The things that we as individuals have control over are conserving energy, reducing pollution, reducing waste, sourcing locally whenever possible, and using environmentally friendly products.
Ways to go green vary with the household, the location, and the resources available. Someone who is leasing property has fewer options than a property owner. A family living in Wisconsin will have different challenges with energy consumption than a family living in Florida. But, no matter what the individual situation there are a number of simple, inexpensive ideas that can have a big impact. In fact, if you google “how to go green”, you will have 10,450,000,000 results to choose from. Even if you only look at the results on page one, you’ll find lots of quick and easy ideas. Here are a few of them.
How to Go Green
- Reduce your use of products that take up space in landfills. For example, instead of disposable plastic water bottles you might consider using a non-disposable bottle that you refill when necessary.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with cooler burning bulbs.
- Wash clothes in cold water and air dry when possible.
- Install a low flow shower head and combine that with shorter showers.
- Walk or bike when possible, instead of driving. Use public transportation if it’s available.
- Set your thermostat slightly lower in the winter and slightly higher in the summer.
- If you are a property owner, insulate attics, basements, windows, and roofs.
At Versi-Foam, we are strong supporters of an eco-friendly lifestyle. Nearly every article written on going green mentions ways to save energy. This is our niche. Versi-Foam spray insulation keeps warm air inside during the winter and outside during the summer. Spray foam insulation saves energy, reduces the use of fossil fuels, and helps to reduce global warming gasses. In addition, we’ve developed an applicator that reduces waste — another green priority.
Going green also offers numerous benefits to you. For starters, many green practices lead to better health and a higher quality of life. Then there is the money you save, not only on your own energy costs, but with potential tax savings. For example, you may qualify for a tax credit on energy-saving home improvements. Property owners can receive a credit of up to 10% of the purchase price of qualified products up to a maximum of $500.
There as many ways to go green as there are individuals. If your eco-friendly plan includes better home insulation, visit our Dealers page to find a distributor near you.
