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To make your home the stuff of green dreams like the people do on Greenovate, minimize the ecological footprint of your home during the wee hours of the night, while you're far away in slumberland. Check out these tips for smart overnight climate control, nocturnal ghost-busting, and more.
Shut It All Down
You may be asleep, but as long as your electronic devices are plugged in, they're still awake and snapping up energy, even if they're turned off. Beat this phenomenon, called phantom load, with a simple pre-bed routine where you unplug and switch off everything you can. Be sure to visit your television and computer as you make the rounds. Even if you're living in one of the World's Greenest Homes, it's nice to tuck your fellow residents into bed at night, especially if they might get hungry for a midnight snack of electricity.
Things That Go Bump
Even if you've banished phantom load, there might still be a ghost under your bed. For a green way to keep away the bogeyman, pick up an LED nightlight, or get hands-on with a DIY version that's a fun project as well as a neat eco-friendly product.
Keeping Comfy
You'd never try to make it through winter without a jacket, or through summer without a t-shirt, so why not give your bed a seasonal wardrobe as well? A bed that's appropriately dressed for the weather will help you reduce your reliance on a heating or air-conditioning system to keep you comfortable overnight, which means a smaller carbon footprint for your home. During the winter, pack an extra blanket or two at the foot of your bed to pull up in case you get chilly. Your body heat will stay trapped between the layers of bedding, keeping you cozy 'til morning. During the summer, swap your regular sheets for a set made from light, breathable flax linen. The flax's hollow-cored fibers allow increased air circulation, which helps you stay cool.
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