Green energy can have many rewards. It lowers utility bills and lets you help out the environment. What ways are there for you to be involved? Read the following tips and techniques to learn how you can use green energy.
Shading your windows from direct sunlight can help you use less energy. Installing blinds and curtains will also help. Since your home will become cooler, you will not have to use the air conditioning that much. This means that you will save energy as well as money.
Take advantage of government grants if you plan to invest in renewable energy sources. Talk to your local government and figure out what programs are in the area. For example you may be able to qualify for a grant for the installation of solar or wind powered technologies.
Are you living on a farm? If so, you can rent some property to energy companies for installing wind turbines. Not only will the turbine use minimal land, it can provide you with free energy.
Do you currently own a farm? If you have a lot of land, energy companies will pay you for the right to set up a wind turbine on it. You and the neighbors can benefit from this free installation and energy which won’t take up much space.
When planning the solar system used in the home, use winter sunshine hours to determine what potential energy generation will be. This will guarantee that you will have energy no matter what the weather brings, and it will result in a surplus during the summer. However, you should also include any refunds you will get from your utility company for excess energy generated in summer!
Biodiesel fuel might be an option if your current heat source is fuel oil. Some systems do not need any modifications in order to use biodiesels. Biodiesel will burn cleaner than petroleum, which helps to protect the environment.
When designing your solar PV system, try to locate the battery storage system as close to the PV cells as possible. This prevents power from getting lost in the cables. It also lessens any chance the cable will shade the cells, which reduces their generation capability.
Use window treatments to shade the inside of your home when you aren’t home. This cools your home’s interior and keeps energy usage down while you’re away. Typically, the south facing windows are the ones that get the most amount of sun due to their location. Cover all of these windows with curtains, blinds or roller shades.
Keep your refrigerator well maintained. Since the fridge consumes lots of energy, it’s key to maintain it in working order. The heating coils should be cleaned regularly to remove the accumulated dust. Also, make sure that the seal around the door is clean and tight.
Do some research to gain information on the energy sources available to your area. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. You might find savings by switching from electric to natural gas for heating, or to well water from city water.
If you dress warmer, you will help cut energy costs, which helps you to go green. Even just a lightweight sweater keeps you two degrees warmer, and a heavyweight sweater will keep you four degrees warmer. It is unnecessary to dress scantily at home, so pick up a sweater and save some money!
If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, don’t run it until it’s completely full. You will use just as much water and energy to run a half-empty dishwasher as a full one. Using the air-dry setting will save energy when you run the dishwasher.
Pay attention to any federal or local rebates offered for making alternative-energy updates to your home. Ask your utility company if they offer rebates for green energy upgrades. You may also be able to get tax credits or deductions from the government for your upgrades. You’ll find that these discounts can effectively reduce the price of adding green energy alternatives into your home.
When designing your solar PV system, try to locate the battery storage system as close to the PV cells as possible. This makes sure power is not lost somewhere in the cable. It also lowers the risk of the cable casting a shadow over the cells, which reduces their ability to generate power.
Use LED lights to decorate for the holidays instead of traditional strand lights. A US study shows The Department of Energy says that if everyone did this, the country would conserve more than 2 billion kilowatt power hours. To put this in perspective, that amount of power could supply the energy needs of 200000 homes for a whole year. At least you will be saving money on your power bill.
Storm Windows
Use a microwave as often as you can to save energy at home. When cooking in the oven or on the stove, it tends to burn up a lot more energy. Take advantage of the microwave whenever you can to cut down on your overall energy consumption.
To help prevent drafts, install storm doors and storm windows. Storm’s windows and doors cut down on the cold air that drafts can let in. Installing storm windows and doors can increase energy efficiency by up to 45%.
Although this may seem like common sense, many people still keep the lights, appliances and electronics on when they are not using them. If a person put this practice into action, he or she would save a huge amount on the electric bill. Try to be consciously aware of what you are doing, and try your best to turn off appliances and lights when you’re not using them.
If you are on the fence about whether to invest money in green energy for your home, have your existing equipment examined by professional plumbers or HVAC experts. These professionals can inform you of how much you are wasting by using appliances that are not energy efficient. That can also provide you with an estimate of how much it will be to replace your systems.
Ask the electric company to help you figure out how to increase the energy efficiency in your home. Most electric companies’ websites contain general information on how to save energy, as well as calculators that tell you how much energy making specific upgrades can save you. You may also be able to find rebates or other programs to help you get energy-efficient light bulbs or appliances.
Explore the possibility of using a solar-powered oven for some of your baking needs. These can even be made yourself using items such as a box, a discarded window, and some tin foil. These ovens can be quickly assembled, and reach 300 degrees in temperature simply using the sun.
Programmable thermostats are one of the easiest ways to save money on energy costs. They include automatic programs to keep your heating and cooling use low. They can also be used to schedule your daily heating.
Energy Star
When doing laundry, there many things you can do to conserve energy. Use the setting on your dryer that will turn it off when clothes are dry. Use the high-spin speed to reduce moisture in clothes and thereby shorten drying time. Always make sure that the dryer filters are clean and that there are no clogs in the vent.
Trade in your old major appliances for new ones with the Energy Star rating. The Energy Star rated appliance is guaranteed to use appreciably less energy than the older non-rated appliance. The rating promises refrigerators and freezers will use 20 percent less energy, 40 percent less for dishwashers and 50 percent less energy for washing machines.
Have your frozen foods thawing in the refrigerator if you want to save energy. Using the fridge is a very safe method for thawing food. The extra benefit is that the thawing food will be releasing cold and helping to reduce the ambient temperature in the fridge, which reduces cycling.
Use the microwave instead if you’d like to save energy. When cooking, stoves and ovens often use lots of energy, usually more than is needed. Microwaves have a bed reputation because they tend to produce lackluster food and emit radiation, but the fact of the matter is that making use of them can greatly reduce your energy costs.
To reduce the amount of energy refrigerators and freezers require, put them in a cool place. If you put your appliances in direct sunlight or on top of a heating vent, the internal temperature can be raised, requiring more electricity to keep your food cool.
Switch your toilets to one of the newer, water-saving varieties. You can save a lot of water from being flushed away if you upgrade to an energy efficient model. An older model uses 5 gallons of water per flush, whereas a water-saving model only uses 1.6 gallons, saving about 70 percent on your yearly water use.
A great way to be green and save some money at the same time is to lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. That can save you almost 10% on your power bill if your family size is 4, and will provide you with a safe and adequate temperature for your hot water.
Use an on-demand water heater to save energy. Water heaters normally run all the time, even if hot water isn’t needed. An on-demand water heater instantly heats water when necessary and saves energy.
Create a high demand for green energy and you will help lower the price. You have a lot of clout as a consumer, and you have to right to use that clout to demand clean technologies. As demand and consumption of products made from environmentally green companies rises, the availability of these products will increase. Manufacturers will also feel pressured to modify their manufacturing techniques to stay profitable.
As odd as it sounds, the majority of people do not bother to disconnect or turn off lights and electronics when they are not being used. If a person put this practice into action, he or she would save a huge amount on the electric bill. Consider what you are doing before it is done, and turn those appliances and lights off when you are finished using them.
Ensure that adequate insulation is present in your home to maintain a warmer, greener home. If your house is more than 30 years old, it probably needs a lot more insulation. You can lower your heating expenses while keeping your home warmer.
Many consumers have considered green energy, but a large number never try to figure out how to take advantage of it or learn how to use it. You have just read some great ideas that can help your home become green and sustainable without spending too much time or money.
Demand stricter laws so green energy become a bigger priority. Awareness can be powerful, and it is something that is under-utilized at the moment. People might be less eager to buy from companies that they know choose profits over saving the environment. Making companies publicly responsibly for the their actions is the first way to encourage green practices.
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