15 Ways to GO GREEN

For most people, it isn't the easiest transition to make. Going green is prohibitively expensive, they say. However, contrary to popular perception, it reduces the cost of living in the long run. Here are some ways you can convert your home.

A building's initial construction expense is just 20-30% of the cost incurred during its lifetime. Usually, the cost of constructing green buildings is 15-20% more than that for regular structures, but they help you save nearly 30% energy and up to 50% in water consumption annually. Here are some options that can help cut cost, either through a lifestyle change, intelligent construction, or use of efficient appliances and fixtures in your home. 

WHAT'S A GREEN HOME? 

Green home is a generic term for a house that is environment-friendly, uses recyclable or sustainable resources and reduces waste. It aims to improve the quality of life in terms of the air you breathe, the material used for construction and the money saved. STRUCTURE & VENTILATION 1. A well-lighted house 

Daylight should infuse at least 50% of the house. Use light coloured paints as they absorb less heat. The reverse is true for houses in colder regions. 2. Design of 

    sunshade 

The angle of the sunshade should allow some light and heat from the low winter sun, but help block summer's heat and bright light. 3. Intelligent 

    layout 

Wet areas in the house, such as kitchen and bathroom, should be close to each other to reduce plumbing and consumption of hot water. 4. Direction of 

    windows 

Windows should face the north or south direction. In hot climates, build bigger windows in the north, smaller in the south. 

POTENTIAL SAVING ON POWER BILL 

10% LIGHTING 5. Shift to CFL, solar lights 

CFL bulbs use 20% of the power compared with regular bulbs and last 10 times more. Cut power bills by 80% by using a mix of CFL and solar lighting. 6. Use dimmers & timers 

Lights needn't be uniformly bright all the time. Save power by installing dimmers. Timers turn off the lights automatically after a preset time. 7. Install light sensors 

If you don't remember to turn off the lights, get motion sensors. These are more useful for lights in common passages or at the entry. 8. Fix light points wisely 

Don't fix bulb points where light is not needed (close to windows), while leaving out darker areas. As far as possible, try to use task lights. 

POTENTIAL SAVING ON POWER BILL 

25% AC & THERMOSTAT 

9.Keep fan on 

A fan with AC makes you feel cooler. Save power by setting thermostat at a higher temperature. 

10. Reflective 

    glass 

Reflective/tinted glass in windows keeps out heat, cuts power bills. 

11. Insulate 

A false ceiling or a fire retardant thermocol on the ceiling can insulate from heat or cold. 

POTENTIAL SAVING ON POWER BILL 

20% WATER 

12. Use thrifty taps and flush 

Taps with aerated flow save up to 30% water compared with regular taps. An efficient and dualflush system cuts the use of water by up to 60%. A low-tech alternative is to keep a brick or plastic jug filled with pebbles in the tank. The space it takes up reduces the amount of water needed to fill the tank, so you'll save water—and money. 

13. Slow on shower 

Give the shower a miss and use a bucket instead. It reduces water usage by over 50%. 

14. Fix the leaks 

A leaking tap or commode can waste several buckets of water a day. It usually costs very little time and money to repair. 

15. Recycle used water 

Use a filter and appropriate plumbing to recycle the water flowing out of a wash basin, bathing area or sink for use in the flush or to irrigate plants. 

POTENTIAL SAVING ON WATER BILL 

50%