Keep Your Home Green This St. Patrick's Day To Avoid Getting Pinched!

Wednesday March 04, 2026

3 Ways To Help Your Home Be More “Green”

No one likes getting pinched on St. Patrick’s Day for not wearing green. A great way to join the festive mood - and avoid the painful pinch - is to “go green” by implementing eco-friendly, energy-saving practices at home. 

Read to discover three simple ways to save energy and money, even after St. Paddy’s Day has come and gone.

Utilize More Natural Light

Most homeowners have already made the switch from incandescent bulbs to more efficient LED or compact fluorescent bulbs. But even these can eat up a significant amount of energy when left on. Turning off the lights and using natural light of the sun is a great way to cut down on needless energy usage.

Merely opening the shades and pulling the curtains back throughout the house can virtually eliminate the need for artificial lighting in the daytime. This works better in homes with plenty of windows, white walls, and wide-open spaces. Strategically placing a few mirrors in darker rooms and hallways and leaving room doors open can make a surprising difference.

Upgrade To Energy-Efficient Appliances

One of the most effective ways to make a home more green is to install more efficient appliances. High-efficiency dishwashers and washing machines can save the average household 6,000+ gallons of water per year and use as much as 25% less energy than standard models.

Upgrading to an energy-efficient refrigerator/freezer can potentially save another 10% of total energy consumption. High-efficiency HVAC heat pumps, water heaters, ceiling fans, and clothes dryers can also cut down on utility costs and consumption to varying degrees. The most efficient appliances bear the Energy Star label created by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, which certifies that the unit meets or exceeds federal energy regulations for eco-friendly equipment.

Unplug Devices That Aren’t Being Used

While green technology is improving rapidly for most large appliances, some devices still consume plenty of power - even when they’re not in use. “Standby power” is electricity that is drawn from wall outlets by inactive electronic devices. 

Phone chargers, coffee machines, printers, surge protectors, and other small gadgets use relatively little standby power. The most prominent are televisions, cable/satellite boxes, game consoles, sound systems, computers (desktop or laptop), and power tool charging docks.

The power lost may seem negligible at a glance, but the waste can add up pretty fast between the multitude of devices. Unplugging even the least-commonly used items or leaving things unplugged overnight can have a noticeable impact on the monthly utility bills and help reduce the home’s overall effect on the environment.