We have been giving out lots of advice recently about how you can live more sustainably. I live in an old row home in Philadelphia, and I wanted to tell you about what I do, in part motivated by the onset of winter. Greening my house is all about finding effective approaches to offset my environmental impact and save money. Times are tough, so the challenge is finding cost-effective solutions to our energy challenges, which deliver bang for the buck. Here are five ways I greened my home, each without breaking the bank.

1. Shrink Wrap your Windows – If you live in an older building or house, as I do, you may be a victim of drafty windows.  Transparent plastic film is available in most hardware stores that tapes around your windows and shrinks tight under heat from a hair dryer. Videos offering step by step instructions are available on YouTube. Now I don’t feel winter’s breeze coming through, and I’ve helped trap my heat.

2. Weatherstrip doors – According to the US Department of Energy, this simple technique for energy savings will pay itself off within one year. By alleviating drafts you will be able to preserve energy and spend less.

3. Save those drips – Leaky faucets waste a surprising amount of water due to their performance inefficiencies. Consider tightening your faucet, or, make the most of these drips by saving an empty milk container and placing it underneath the leaky culprit. Then use the collected water to hydrate your household plants. 

4. Hand wash routine dishware – I’m a devoted coffee fan. I have a cup first thing in the morning while getting ready for work. Hand washing my everyday coffee cups prevents me from using the dishwasher as often. This results in a double green outcome by saving water and energy.  So, go on out there and buy yourself a sponge. PS – and try not to use the dishwasher unless it is full.

5. Sign up for green power – Enroll in a green power program! For only a few dollars a month, you will not only take an environmentally responsible approach to your personal energy supply mix, your financial contribution will help support the development of wind farms. I am one of nearly 40,000 customers in the Philadelphia area enrolled in our PECO Wind program.