You might have been confused when you heard others discussing green energy technology. This is the best place to learn more about green energy and the technology that goes with it. The following article will teach you how to incorporate green technology into your home environment.
Solar panels that collect solar energy to be used are easy to have installed at your home. However, before installing them, there are some things to keep in mind. What you need to know first is how much of the sun does your home generally receive? If you live in an area with a lot of shade, or worse, a lot of cloudy days, you’ll be unable to make full use of solar panels.
TIP! You can cut your energy consumption by a lot if you just cut back on the electricity you use. For example, when an appliance is not in use unplug it.
Save electricity while becoming a more conscientious energy consumer by unplugging the chargers for all your electronic gadgets when they aren’t in use. They may not be currently in use, but items such as cell phone chargers, laptops and mp3 players draw energy when left plugged in.
Whenever possible, use cold water to wash your clothing. When you heat up water, you consume much more energy as opposed to using colder water. If your laundry detergent is a high quality brand, the use of cold water won’t affect the cleanliness of your clothing. Additionally, do not run the washer until it is full so as to maximize your energy use.
During the summer time, you should consider drying your clothes using the sun as opposed to using the dryer. The sun gives your clothes a great smell. They’ll smell so much better than if you shoved them into a dryer! You will also have lower utility bills.
TIP! Consider installing solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. Not only are they a reasonable purchase price, but they do not require electricity to run.
Think about how much sun your home gets during winter months to help you figure out how much solar energy you need to power your home. This can prevent surprises in the winter, so you ensure your home has proper energy inventory. Combining this method with a net utilities plan will mean getting back money from the electric company during the summer, too.
Dressing warmly can help you reduce energy and go green. A light sweater offers 2 degrees of more warmth, and a heavy sweater adds 4 degrees. You don’t have to wear a t-shirt and shorts in your home, so dress warmly and save money!
Increase your energy efficiency by making use of the right products that are designed for a greener environment. Ecologically friendly windows and doors can minimize the energy you need to operate your home efficiently. You will also cut down on the cost to heat and cool your home by implementing these products into your life.
TIP! Use a solar-solar powered system to heat water. Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat water resulting in energy savings.
Use e-mail over snail mail as much as possible. Going paperless can help the environment in many ways. This will not only help businesses lower their energy costs, but you as well. You also help others by protecting the environment as well.
Watch your watt usage. Get a watt monitor such as the Watt Minder or the Kill-A-Watt to find out which appliances use too much energy. If you attach the device to the appliances in your home, it will let you know how much energy that appliance uses for different lengths of time. It gives concrete information about how much energy the appliance is wasting.
If you would like to make your life greener like many people do, there are plenty of steps you can take. You might not have the money to invest in a solar panel array, but you can commit to cleaning your furnace filters once per month and setting your thermostat to 60 degrees while you are out. Setting your water heater’s temperature to a maximum 120 degrees will also save money. Every small amount helps.
Energy Star
Replace your old appliances for newer ones that have an Energy Star rating. This rating ensures that the appliance was built to use less energy than the other non Energy Star products. This rating guarantees 20% less energy for freezers and refrigerators, 40% difference for dishwashers, and 50% for washing machines!
A good green energy tip while cooking at home is to use a microwave whenever you can. The stove and oven use a lot more energy to cook foods. So, never shy away from the microwave when using it is an option. You will save time, money, and energy by making this choice.
TIP! Are you the owner of a farm? Companies are actually looking for space to put wind turbines in, and a small part of your property can be used as one of those spots. You and your neighbors will benefit from free energy and this installation will not take a lot of space.
Water-saving toilets are easy to find and install. Some estimates report that about half of the water consumption in a home is from the toilet. A traditional toilet uses about five gallons of water each time it is flushed, compared to a water-conserving toilet, which uses just 1.6 gallons. This is a 70% water savings.
To reduce electricity usage, use sensor lights in regularly-used rooms. These devices automatically detect when there is no longer anyone in a room and turns the lights off. The savings from these devices can really add up! Include sensors on your outdoor lighting and lights in the garage, as well.
60 Degrees
TIP! Biodiesel is a great alternative to the standard oil used to heat a home. Depending on your system, you may be able to switch to biodiesel without having to make any modifications to your system.
One way to conserve energy at home is setting your furnace to 60 degrees during the night and while you are out of the house. Setting the thermostat to 60 degrees will help cut energy usage. The rewards include more money in your pocket and a more environmentally sound approach to energy management.
Be sure to check the doors of your refrigerator and freezer to make sure the seal is tight. A seal that’s broken will result in your fridge running more than it needs to. This is a waste of money and energy. Check the tightness of your seal by closing the door on a piece of paper. When you pull to try and remove the paper, there should be adequate resistance.
The aforementioned article discussed green energy technologies and uses, and armed with this information, you can go about making changes to your home. Using the advice from this article will assist you in making your home energy efficient. You will not only help the environment by saving electricity, but will also save money on your monthly utility bills.