Autumn is near – time to change

This time of year is magical in some ways with the season’s changing, the leaves turning beautiful colors and the crispness in the air. Soon the day light savings time will change, the weather will get colder and we all start to prepare for winter by changing out screens, storing our summer items and winterizing the house and yard.  Most of us will be raking leaves ( which is always a fun chore to have, jumping in piles of leaves playing),  mulching trees and  flower gardens, and  preparing  the garden for winter planting.  Autumn is a time for change in so many ways.

This time of year being Green is very important as we prepare for cold weather.  There are so many ways you can be Eco Friendly during your winterization process.

Here are some great eco friendly winterization tips:

• Gather seeds and seed pods from plants to plant next spring – its fun educational and saves money

• Use non VOC paint

• Use Eco-friendly or bio based foam sealant

• Use cotton, wool or recycled content insulation

• Buy Organic cotton, Wool, Bamboo or other Natural fiber blankets or Duvets

• Buy used blankets to help save the environment from the carbon footprint of buying new

• Seal windows and doors to prevent air leakage to save on energy

• Install LED or CFL lighting that uses less energy

• Use less light bulbs (we use 1/3 the lighting that is suggested in our lamps & fixtures etc)

• Use biomass heating if possible in place of Oil, buy energy efficient heating appliances, solar or geothermal systems to save energy and off-put less C02

• Turn off lights when not in use

• Turn down heat when not at home

• Open you oven door after baking to allow the extra heat to heat your home

• Close doors to trap heat in each room

• Use Storm doors or windows / insulated windows to keep exterior doors & windows air tight

• Buy low e glass in windows and doors to help with energy conservation

• Use biodegradable bags if you need to bag leaves for pick-up or compost leaves in the yard or garden

• Allow for city pick-up or natural decomposition for lawn clippings or limbs/ brush instead of burning

• Use electric lawn equipment when possible

• Storing patio furniture and umbrellas,  covering grills will make them last longer.

• Use Green lawn care products when treating lawn and gardens

• Store ash from fireplaces/ wood burning stoves or corn burning stoves to use in the garden for spring

• Pressure washers and other  outdoor cleaning can be done eco-friendly without the use of toxic chemicals

• Dispose of construction waste consciously by donating unused or used lumber, windows and doors to Habitat for Humanity for re-sale.  Recycle unusable materials to recycling center near by.  You sometimes can get a small amount of cash, but if not, it is worth the effort just to keep it out of the landfills.

Autumn is a wonderful time of the year enjoy it the healthy, eco friendly way!