With solar power, Frederick residents are taking a major step in making their home eco-friendlier. Adding in a few more simple tasks ensures that your home is as green as it can be.

Ditch the Bottle

One of the biggest anti-green things you can do is buy bottled water. It is convenient, but there are so many other ways to have fresh, bottled water at all times. First, buy a few reusable bottles and keep these filled and in the refrigerator. Next, get a tap filter. This will allow you to have purified water without having to buy dozens of bottles every month. This will also save you a lot of money.

Change the Temperature

There is no need to have your heat at 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Simply toss a sweater on and turn it down to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The same goes for summer, but with air conditioning, which you will keep a bit warmer. You will still be able to be comfortable, but you will be using a lot less energy. Combining this with solar panels will make a big difference on your utility bills.

Start Unplugging

When you are not using something powered by electricity, you should unplug it. Of course, there are a few things that must stay plugged in like your refrigerator. Keeping things plugged in can rack up 40 percent more electricity usage. Things like your coffee pot, cell phone charger and other smaller appliances and electronic items can easily be unplugged, and you will just simply plug them in when you need to use them.

Cover Your Windows

This is easy to do and just requires a good set of blinds or a thick curtain. Keeping sunlight out during the warm months will help to keep your apartment or home cool. Keeping windows covered in the cold months helps to decrease heat loss. If you want to take advantage of natural light and/or a great view that you have, simply open the curtains or blinds when you are home and shut them before heading out for the day. Even a few hours will be beneficial.

Conserve Water

Since you will not be using bottled water, you will be using your tap a lot more often. You can save up to 150 gallons every month by turning the water off when brushing your teeth and taking showers that are just two minutes shorter than the showers you normally take.

You can use cold water to wash your clothes. This saves on the gas heating the hot water. To save water overall, only do laundry when you have a full load. Washing a few pieces of clothing at a time really starts to add up.

Between these methods and taking advantage of solar power in Frederick, you are taking major steps to reduce your energy usage and be greener. Starting with one and working up to adding more options each months allows for a smooth transition to a lifestyle that reduces your carbon footprint.