How Homeowners Can Help the Environment

At our present time the environment is at risk. There is an increase in air pollution and a surplus of trash. Because of the high cost of energy there is now talk of building more nuclear power plants to produce more electricity, however, these plants can cause severe environmental damage. However, there are ways that a home owner can help the environment in reducing air pollution and decreasing the dependancy on conventional electricity.

Reducing Trash
Recycling is the best way to reduce trash. The waste management companies in nearly every city provides residents with recycle pickup service. The service gives recycle baskets to homeowners for plastic, cans, paper, and glass. It would be a good idea to keep these baskets indoors so that when you are discarding trash you can put the milk and juice bottles in the basket for plastics, soda cans in the basket for cans, newspapers and junk mail in the basket for paper, and beer bottles and light bulbs in the basket for glass. As for kitchen and food trash, instead of throwing food waste in the garbage can, use it to create a compost pile for fertilizing the lawn and garden. Decomposed food waste makes good lawn and garden fertilizer. The results of recycling leaves less trash for the garbage man to pick up weekly.

Reducing Air Pollution
Air Fresheners And Sprays
Avoid using air fresheners and sprays such as Fabreez and Lysol. The chemical ingredients in such products have been found to contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. Burning scented oils, scented candles, and scented plugins can be just as polluting. When used, these products give off fine particles that can cause respiratory problems when breathed.

Natural Gas Fire Place
In recent years many communities have made restrictions on wood- burning fire places, and wood stoves. These restrictions commonly known as burn bans, prohibit wood burning on days with poor air quality and during a time of rainless forecast. For a home owner living in such an area a natural gas fire place would be a good option. Natural gas fire places can dramatically reduce the amount of pollutants and particles emitted into the air. Since there is a continuous fuel supply there is no need to cut down trees to chop wood. In the chimney there is no soot, ashes, nor creosote buildup.

Chimney Filters
A chimney filter may be an inexpensive alternative to replacing a wood burning fire place with a natural gas fire place. A chimney filter can be easily installed within the chimney. The device filters out pollutants and particles from burning wood smoke as the smoke rises up the chimney. As a result clear smoke is released into the atmosphere.

Lawn Mowers
Manual Lawn Mowers
If a home owner has a small lawn, a manual lawn mower would be good to use. They are very environmentally friendly. They do not need the power of gas nor electricity. The only fuel they run on is human energy. They can be easily maintained and easily stored.

Electric Lawn Mowers
If a home owner does not want to use up his or her human energy yet want to help the environment, a cordless electric lawn mower is a good alternative to the gas mower and the manual mower. Powering an electric mower cost less than powering a gas mower due the rising gas prices. They are easy to maintain because they do not need engine tune ups and oil changes like gas mowers. When using electric mowers, they will not leak oil nor gasoline, or do they give off exhaust fumes.

Mulching Yard Trash
After mowing and trimming one's yard, there are plenty of weeds, branches, twigs, leaves, and grass clippings. Some people dispose of this lawn trash by throwing it in the garbage can or burning it. Instead of doing either, one can run the weed, branches, twigs, leaves, and grass clippings through a mulching machine. Then take the mulch and put it in a compost pile where it can decompose and can later be used for a natural fertilizer.

Save Electricity
Using solar power is an excellent way for a homeowner to help the environment. Instead of drawing electricity from the power company which get the power from nuclear plants, coal or/and oil, solar power draws and uses energy from sunlight. There are solar energy products a home owner can install to help the environment.
Solar panels installed on the roof of the house absorbs energy from the sun and converts it to electric energy to be used to power the home. This system can be easily installed into any home. The system can be connected to the power grid, which is the existing electrical service, to provide electric power. The system reduces the amount of electricity bought from the power company. Any excess electricity created by the solar electric system is fed to the utility company through the power grid. As a result the electric system is fed to the utility company through the power grid. As a result the electric meter runs backwards for a credit. The power company will send a check instead of a bill or credit to the exiting bill.

Solar Energy System Powers:
Solar water heater systems
Solar pool heaters
Indoor Lighting
Air Purifiers
Solar electric generators
Solar power attic fans
Solar power water purifiers for pools

A solar power energy system can do so much for the home without having to use conventional electric power.

Protecting the environment is something to home owners should consider. Although modern society has caused more environmental pollution and depletion, modern society has also provided us with ways to help and protect the environment. It is very important and should be treasured by all.