Green for the Holidays

By Lily Dieck, Michigan Intern The New Year is fast approaching. As you plan your resolutions for 2013, I encourage you to play your part in protecting our environment by making small changes to increase your home’s green factor. Don’t worry, it’s easy and won’t burn a hole in your pocket after all that holiday spending. Here are some great tips from John Kinch of Michigan Energy Options to help make your home more energy efficient! Watch the video! 1.      Invest in solar panels: In recent years solar panels have become more affordable and are easily installed on most houses and businesses. The Michigan Energy Options demonstration center in East Lansing currently gets 40% of its electricity from solar panels! 2.      Rethink your commute: Making biking part of your daily travel! It’s a great way to reduce pollution and fit some exercise into your day. Check out Lansing Smart Commute to see how you can reduce your carbon footprint! 3.      Grow a rain garden: Rain gardens revive urban environments and prevent harmful pollutants from entering sewer systems. They help reduce water overuse by nurturing plants with runoff water, which saves you money in return! 4.      Improve your air quality: Did you know that the air quality inside your home could actually be worse than the air outdoors? Some basic household products contain harsh chemicals that can pollute the air, so considering investing in green cleaning products. Also make sure to purchase paint and flooring that is free of pollutants. This New Year, it’s time to improve not only your health, but also the health of the environment by making your home more eco-friendly. Pledge to be a clean energy champion in 2013! Stay up to date on energy efficiency news by liking our Facebook and Twitter.