Going green is about more than decreasing your negative impact on the earth. It’s about improving your own lifestyle and ridding your daily life of toxic or harmful materials and practices. By going green in the garage, you can improve the air quality throughout your home, save money, and create a healthier, safer living environment for the whole family! What are you waiting for? Get out to the garage and get started!
Add insulation.
The garage is the largest opening that leads into the house (if your garage is attached), so it has the potential to cause major energy loss. If garage walls and doors are insulated and sealed, however, you can prevent a lot of heated or cooled air from escaping, which could save you a lot of money by decreasing your overall power usage. Inspect your garage for holes or cracks, and fill them with caulk or insulation.
In addition to insulating, make sure the weatherstripping at the bottom of your garage door is in good shape. If it’s not, replace it. Also consider updating your garage door; many steel garage doors are very well insulated and have high energy efficiency ratings.
Install LED light bulbs.
LED light bulbs last longer and use less energy than incandescent bulbs! Consider swapping your current bulbs out for LEDs. You may pay a little more up front, but you can quickly make the money back by paying less for electricity and replacing them less frequently.
Clear out the clutter!
If your garage is full of stuff you don’t want in the house or possibly don’t need at all, it’s time to declutter! Organize and clean your garage, and take the items you no longer use to a local charity or have a garage sale. You can toss the junk, but try to recycle or donate as much as possible!
Don’t store things you shouldn’t in the garage, such as food, wine, propane, oil, or other hazardous materials. Make sure the things you do store in your garage are labeled clearly and stored safely in appropriate containers.
Recycle.
While cleaning and organizing your garage, set up recycling bins—one for paper and cardboard and another for cans and bottles. Your garbage service likely recycles the paper and cardboard. Take cans and bottles to a nearby recycling center, and make yourself a little money in the process.
Buy Energy Star appliances.
Do you have a refrigerator or freezer in your garage? Upgrading to a newer model that's Energy Star certified can help you save a lot of money and energy over time.
Keep your vehicles in check.
Check to see if any fluids are leaking from your vehicle. Break fluid, oil, and gasoline running onto the ground or your garage floor are not only dangerous for children and pets, but they also could run into the sewers and end up in our water sources. Maintain your vehicle to minimize pollutants in and around your home.
Never idle your car in the garage. The fumes can fill your garage and seep into your home, making the air very dangerous to breathe!
Utilize natural light.
Consider adding windows to your garage to let in the sunlight. This is a natural way to heat and light up your garage. To maximize light flow and visibility, consider installing a contemporary aluminum garage door.
Imagine if everyone did these things. Your city would be much cleaner and safer for everyone! WD Door repairs and installs garage doors around Des Moines. Let us know if you need any garage door services. We can help you improve your garage’s functionality, usability, and appearance this spring!
