The idea of living a green lifestyle has become quite popular among people. You can save ample amounts of cash and also make a meaningful environmental contribution. This article will illustrate simple and effective ways to employ green energy in your home.
Do your best to keep your windows shaded from any sunlight. Using curtains or blinds is a good way to block unwanted sunlight. By utilizing these ideas, you will drop your AC costs dramatically as your house remains cooler during the summer. Not only will you save energy, but you will also save money.
Instead of using your air conditioner in the summer, try to wear fabrics that are natural. Natural fabrics, such as cotton, remove moisture from skin so that you stay cool. Wear lighter colored clothes, as darker colors tend to make you feel hotter, which results in your putting on the AC.
Wear natural fabrics instead of using the air conditioning in the summer. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw the moisture further from your skin and let it stay cooler. Wearing lighter colors will also help, because they tend to reflect light.
Installing Solar Panels
Conserve energy by unplugging chargers when you aren’t using them. Chargers for devices like phones, music players, computers and others use small amounts of power any time they are in an outlet, even if you aren’t charging anything.
Installing solar panels is a great way to save electricity. There are several things that should be considered prior to installing solar panels. The number one to think about is the amount of sun your home gets. If your home is mostly in the shade, or if you live in a location that receives little sun, your power gain may be minimal.
When away from home, cover the windows. This allows your home to be kept cool when you aren’t there, and in addition, it helps keep energy costs down. Generally, the south-facing windows get the most sun because of their position. Dark curtains, roller or roman shades can cover windows well.
If you want to save money and energy, only run your dishwasher when it is completely full of dishes. If you only have a couple of dishes, do not put them in the dishwasher and turn it on. Once you learn how to properly fill a dishwasher, you will be amazed at the number of dishes that can be washed in one load. Set up the plates so that you fill it up as much as possible.
Consider switching to solar-powered water heaters for your home. If you live in a place with normally warm temperatures, try installing a system that uses a solar heater. Even though solar water heaters are useful, it is still necessary to have a normal water heater for periods of extended cloudy weather or unusually high hot water use.
Solar Energy
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Check the cost of running your home using these utilities, taking into consideration any recent legislation regarding energy costs. It might be good to switch to natural gas or well water, as an example.
Save on water heating costs by using solar energy. Build a hot-water system based on solar energy. You have the choice for an indirect or direct circulation system. The indirect system is a a great thing to have and you do not have to think about having frozen pipes during the winter.
A good way to save money is to only turn on your dishwasher when you have a full load ready to go. Properly loading the dishwasher prior to running it will save both energy and money. Your dishwasher can probably hold a lot more dishes than you think. Set up the plates so that you fill it up as much as possible.
Keep your refrigerator well maintained. Refrigerators constantly use energy to maintain cooler temperatures. If it is not properly cared for, it will use much more energy than it needs to. Keep heating coils dust free. You should also be sure that the door has a clean and tight seal.
Use solar energy to provide hot water cheaply. Build a hot-water system based on solar energy. There are systems available that circulate the heat both directly and indirectly. You’re better off with an indirect system if you are worried about pipes freezing during the winter.
If green energy is a concept which you embrace, minimize the use of electrical heaters during the winter months. In order to do this, you need to do two things. First, buy the necessary clothing and slippers, to keep family members warm. Second, use a pellet stove or fireplace for heating. Cooler air is better for sleeping anyway, because it prevents airways from becoming dry.
Maintaining your refrigerator is an easy way to save energy. Since the fridge consumes lots of energy, it’s key to maintain it in working order. Regularly make sure the heating coils are dust-free. Make sure the door seal is clean and also tight.
If you dress warmer, you will help cut energy costs, which helps you to go green. Light or heavy sweaters will both provide you with additional warmth of up to 4 degrees. You do not have to dress lightly at home, so save money by putting on a sweater and turning down the heat!
In homes with storm doors and windows, air flow is controlled better. This will reduce drafts, make your home more comfortable, and reduce your energy usage. If you use storm doors or windows, you can save at least 45 percent on your electricity bills.
Desktop computers require a lot of energy, so why not opt for a laptop? You can actually save up to 75% on your electrical usage, especially if you use your computer all the time. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!
Take advantage of government rebates on renewable energy installations. Some utility companies also provide rebate opportunities for the installation of green technologies. Other companies may offer tax deductions from your local or federal government. These rebates, credits, and other allowances can make it much more affordable to install renewable energy equipment on your property.
Energy Usage
If you are apprehensive about what green changes to make to your home, there are many green energy consultants available today. They will let you know how costly your appliances are, and they can give a detailed estimate on how much the costs will be to replace or upgrade your existing systems.
Leave yourself reminder notes to decrease energy usage, and frequently compare past bills with current ones to see if you’re making strides. Keeping energy usage at the forefront of your mind can motivate you to use less energy in the long run. Taking the time to use less resources will help you get into a habit of preventing energy waste through unattended appliances.
See exactly how many watts of power you are using. There are gadgets out there that will help show you what in your house is using the most energy. Look for brands like Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt. Plug your appliances in to these devices to find out what amount of energy is required each year, month or hour to run it. This can show what your appliance is costing you.
Try to resort to your microwave whenever possible. Ovens and stoves use lots more energy to prepare food than microwaves. Take advantage of the microwave whenever you can to cut down on your overall energy consumption.
Make sure you remind yourself to be on top of being energy efficient and check into your energy bills on a monthly and annual basis to see what the difference is. By being conscious of how you use energy, you can help significantly reduce the amount of energy you consume. For instance, should you consciously decide to decrease your electricity or water use, you are also likelier to turn off appliances or unused lights.
Switch your toilets to one of the newer, water-saving varieties. Estimates show that about 50% of your home’s water is used by flushing toilets. Older toilet models use up to 70 percent more water per year than newer ones.
Use LED holiday lights to help with green energy use. There are many studies from the U.S. to back this up. The U.S. Department of Energy says we could save over 2 billion kilowatt hours of power if everyone made this change. This electricity could power more than 200,000 houses for a year. Even if you don’t care about those big numbers, you should care that you can personally save money by going green.
You may want to get bamboo items when you’re in the market for something made out of wood. Bamboo is a very green product and is technically a grass, but it is stronger than many commercially available woods. Its rate of growth is very high and is being utilized for everything from wood flooring to cutting boards. This saves energy on the recycling and production end of manufacturing products.
Heat your home with biofuels. Biofuel consists of vegetable or animals fats, wood and oils. If you have a propane furnace a professional may be able to convert your furnace to a bio-fuel furnace. This fuel would contain anywhere from 20-99% biodiesel. Make sure you consult an energy professional before using biofuels in your home.
60 Degrees
Try using a toilet that is built to save water. You can save a lot of water from being flushed away if you upgrade to an energy efficient model. Older models used 5 or more gallons of water to flush; today’s water saving models uses a little over 1.5 gallons per flush. That is a 70 percent water savings.
To cut your energy use, set your heater to 60 degrees when away from home and while you sleep. Having the heat set at 60 degrees uses the minimum quantity of energy possible. You can save money on your utility bills by reducing your energy consumption in this way.
You can increase the energy efficiency of your home with proper weatherization procedures. You can reduce the energy usage of your home by installing energy efficient doors and windows, sealing ducts, replacing faulty heat and air conditioners and adding insulation to your home. this will also lead to a decrease in your energy bill.
You can drastically reduce your heating bill using room-specific heat sources. One way to do this is to purchase a floor heater that has a main control that will let you monitor individual areas, and allow you to choose the temperature in each area. This is a wonderful solution for larger homes.
One clever way to conserve energy is to thaw frozen food in a refrigerator. Not only will this safely thaw the food, but also the cold air than emanates from the frozen goods will help the refrigerator to stay cool, reducing overall energy consumption.
Programmable thermostats are one of the easiest ways to save money on energy costs. These types of thermostats are already programmed, or preset, to adjust temperatures accordingly for colder and warmer months throughout the year. Most importantly, you can use them to cut back on the energy you use at night or while you are away.
Make the price of green technologies go down by demanding them. The rational behind this is simple, the more people demand green energy options the less expensive they will become. Economies of scale mean that the more companies produce green technologies, the lower the cost to produce each individual unit. This will also encourage companies to align their processes in order to maintain profitable manufacturing practices.
There are a lot of things you can do to save energy when you wash your laundry. Start in using moisture control settings that turns your dryer off when clothes are dry. High-spin speeds reduce moisture and shorten drying time. Regularly look for blockages in your dryer’s vent and clean the dryer filters.
If people want to lower the amount of energy they use, they can create their own ice. The ice maker on your fridge will use a lot of energy to create ice, while they are also likely to break down easily. The ice maker may not be sealed properly; if the seal leaks, your freezer’s internal temperature will rise. Therefore, one way to save energy is to make your own ice.
When you cannot make complete use of renewable energy throughout your home, consider options that will power specific areas of the home. For example, you can use a solar water heater.
Swap out your old thermostat for a programmable thermostat. This thermostat will help you control your home’s temperature to get it at the optimal level for the times you are at home and times you are away. It could also be set for a different temperature when you sleep. Certain models use multiple stop and start times to increase energy conservation.
The information above, hopefully, provided you with some great ideas. Using greener energy could be useful in a lot of ways and it could make you feel batter about yourself. Apply the tips you just read to make your home more energy efficient using green energy technology.
Demand watch dog legislation to encourage the use of green energy by companies. Awareness is often under-utilized to promote green energy. When you know that a company is not acting in the community’s best interest by using sound, green technology, you might think twice about doing business with them. By having companies be forced to publicize what they are doing, they would be more likely to start practicing green technology.
About The Author
