How to keep your home healthy

Join Agent GoodGreen in his mission to protect healthy living by using less energy at home!

Make it your mission!

We all use energy every day in our homes. Turning on lights, watching television, cooking dinner and heating our rooms are just some of the ways we do that every single day. If we want to keep our homes healthy, we have to be smart about using energy. We have to make it our mission, just like Agent GoodGreen. There are lots of ways you can start doing that today!

Turn 'em off!

Lights in a home use a lot of energy, and most of it is wasted into the air as heat -- not light! So, turn ‘em off. If the lights are on in your room, when you leave turn 'em off . If you see lights on at home during the daytime (especially on a sunny day), turn 'em off .

And what about the television and the computer? When you're done watching your favorite shows and when you're done checking your email, turn 'em off ! Why should they be on when no one is using them?

Turn it down!

We all like to be comfortable at home. Sometimes, we waste a lot of energy at home trying to stay comfortable. There are little things you and your parents can do to keep your healthy without be too uncomfortable.

Is your hot water in bathtub or the shower hot? I mean really, really hot? Then turn it down! It could be too hot which means energy is wasted just keeping it hot. Ask your parents about turning down the temperature of the water heater.

Is your house warm in the winter? I mean really, really warm? Is it warm you have to wear t-shirts and shorts? Then turn it down ! It's better to use less energy and wear long-sleeves and sweaters. Ask your parents about turning down the temperature of the air inside when it's cold outside.

Your family can even use less energy when washing clothes. If the washing machine is usually set on hot or warm, then turn it down! Your home won't use as much hot water -- so, it won't use so much energy. Ask your parents about turning down the temperature of the washing machine.

Switch 'em out!

We already talked about lights in the house and how you can turn 'em off to save energy. Did you know that you can also replace many light bulbs with new fluorescent bulbs that last longer and use less energy? If you want to help your home stay healthy, then switch 'em out! New fluorescent bulbs can last 8 to 12 times longer than regular bulbs. Ask your parents about buying some. You could even give a little money to help!