It is a daunting thought when considering making a home-wide change to greener energy use. There are many things that you can easily do to help protect the environment. Take the time to read through the following tips to find the things that are best for your home.
Lower the cost of heating your indoor water, pools and hot tubs by switching to solar water heating systems. Using gas or electricity to heat water isn’t efficient. However, solar water heaters use the sun to make water comfortable and reduce energy consumption. In the United States there are many tax deductions for energy efficient green products.
To save money on your electric bills, simply try to minimize the electricity you use. Unplug appliances that are not being used. Also, remember to turn off lights when they are not needed. This simple little suggestion can save you money.
Check whether your furnace filters need to be replaced each month. Make sure that you actually replace these filters at least once each year. Filters can also be installed in every warm-air register. This stops debris from blocking heating ducts.
If you are thinking of designing your outdoor areas with lighting, consider using solar lamps instead of conventional power. Not only are these lamps cheap, but they only need power from the sun. This doesn’t merely save energy. It also ensures that there is no need to wire lights outdoor.
If you heat your home with fuel oil, inquire about switching over to biodiesel. You might even find that you can switch your system to partial biodiesel without having to purchase parts or hire a contractor to perform modifications. Biodiesel runs more efficiently, burns more clean, and costs you less during the winter.
There are grants that can help you invest in green energy. Speak with the government in your area about these programs. Depending on your local energy programs, you could end up getting a renewable energy system set up for your home for free.
Turn you appliances off when you are not using them. For example, if you are not in a certain room, turn off the lights, TV or computer. Use power strips for home electronics. As well, turn this off when you’re not using your electronics. Products in standby mode still waste power.
Solar Panels
When planning a home solar system, calculate the potential energy generation of the system using hours of sunshine in the winter. You will have more than enough energy during the summer months, while avoiding falling short during the winter. An even better benefit is that you can sell your energy back to the grid in the sunniest of times!
You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. Before you do this though, you need to think about a few things first. A major factor in choosing if you can use a solar system is the amount of sunlight your home receives on average. If you home is shaded, the amount of energy collected from solar panels will be greatly reduced.
Batteries need to be situated closely to the cells in solar power systems. Doing this will help prevent power loss within the cable. It also lowers the risk of the cable casting a shadow over the cells, which reduces their ability to generate power.
Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. Mp3, cell phone, laptop, and various other device chargers draw power when they’re plugged in, no matter if it’s charging or not.
Do maintenance on your fridge to save money. Keep your refrigerator in tip-top shape, and running at maximum efficiency, with minimal effort. It is important to wipe off the dust from heating coils on a regular basis. In addition to that, make the seal near the door clean and tight.
When you can, wash your clothes using cold water. Almost 90% of energy consumption during clothes being washed is a result of the hot water usage. Modern laundry detergent does just as well with cold water as hot water. Another great tip is to always fill up the washer with a full load so that you’re being as efficient as possible.
If you are on a mission to go green, start by keeping electric heaters off or on a very low setting during winter months. Dress more warmly when around the house. Wear slippers and a heavy top, and light up your fireplace or pellet stove for increased warmth at low cost. This is good for your health as well as your electric bill. Breathing cooler air at night helps keep your respiratory system healthy; you’ll avoid drying out your airways.
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. South facing windows will receive the most sun, and therefore heat. Dark curtains, roller or roman shades can cover windows well.
A good way to save on your electric bill is to switch to a laptop computer rather than using a desktop. This can lower your electrical use by as much as 75%, particularly if you are someone who stays on the Internet for long periods of time. Plus you can take your laptop anywhere.
When determining the economical impact of a PV solar system, be sure to run a calculation using the hours of winter sunlight. You will avoid unpleasant surprises during winter, and you will also ensure your energy needs are met in summer. If you’re using a net-usage plan, in the summer you’ll get cash back from your utility provider.
You can use biofuel to heat your house. This type of fuel is usually made with a combination of animal fat, vegetable oil and wood. If you have a propane furnace a professional may be able to convert your furnace to a bio-fuel furnace. Up to 99% can be biodiesel. Talk to a professional before you use these types of fuels so you can do it safely.
Replace a water heater that is tank-style, with a model that is green and has no tank. Even though these green versions of water heaters still use electricity or gas, they only need it to warm the water you’re using instead of heating it at all times. You can get a tankless water heater to heat your entire home’s water supply or you can get a smaller one that heats only water that comes out of a particular faucet.
It might be commonly known, but people still do not make sure they turn off lights, machines and various equipment when they aren’t using them. If you do this every day, your energy bills will plummet. Consider what you actually use and unplug the rest.
If you are really committed to going green, one way to do so is to limit how often you use your electric heater in winter. Instead, invest in some warm clothing and slippers for family members and use a fireplace or pellet stove to heat living areas. Remember, cooler air during sleep is better for breathing, and keeps the airways from drying out.
If you need to buy a wooden item, see if it is available in bamboo. Bamboo is a green alternative to wood products and very strong. It grows quickly and can be used and sold for a variety of purposes, from cutting boards to flooring. This saves energy on the recycling and production end of manufacturing products.
Save Money
Green electronics may seem expensive in the beginning; however, the amount of energy saved will pay off over the life of the equipment. Energy savings, coupled with monetary savings, will make the investment worthwhile over the longer term. It also results in long-lasting environmental benefits.
One very easy way to save money on your heating bills is to dress more warmly around the house during the winter months. Sweaters of varying thickness can offer more warmth, from two to four degrees depending on its weight. You don’t have to wear a t-shirt and shorts in your home, so dress warmly and save money!
For room that are heavily occupied, add motion detecting light sensors. These lights only go off when someone is the room, so you will save money and energy when no one is in the room. Also try this on your outdoor lights, so that they only turn on when there is someone there.
Keep your heat on at a moderate level. Don’t increase it unless it is a necessity. Wear sweatpants and a sweater if you are chilly. When you keep the heat unnecessarily high you use far more energy than you need to–and that is expensive!
Try setting your heat at 61 degrees or less when you aren’t home, or when you have retired for the night. At this temperature, your home will use as little energy as possible. You can minimize energy usage and save money.
If you are trying to achieve a greener lifestyle, there are many options for you. While you might not have much money to spend on going green, you can begin by cleaning up furnace filters every month and set the heat to 60 degrees when you aren’t home. Reduce your water heat temperature to one hundred twenty degrees to save money as well. Any little effort helps!
Weatherizing your home can help make it more energy efficient. You can seal ducts, add in insulation, and put in new windows and cooling systems that are energy efficient so that you can reduce the energy it takes to operate your home. You will also help reduce the cost of your energy bill in the process.
Check your utility bills against previous years’ bills to see how you’re doing in your efforts to go green. You should also write down your goals for energy efficiency and reminders to help you stay on track. When you’re aware of energy expenses, you’re better positioned to reduce them. If you form good habits of cutting your electric or water usage, turning off appliances and lights when not in use becomes automatic.
If using solar energy to power your whole home is too daunting or expensive a task, consider applying it for just some of your energy needs. As an example, you could install a set of panels dedicated just to heating your water.
The type of green energy system that will work for your home depends on the location and orientation of your house. With different qualities and options, green tech option efficacy will vary quite a bit. Some work for all homes, while others work for only some. Figure out what tips work for your household and make sure you utilize them.
In order to lessen the costs of green energy, consumers need to demand these newer technologies. You have the right–and the power–as a consumer to ask for more environmentally friendly technologies from the companies you support. The higher the demand for such products, the more companies will focus on manufacturing green products and lowering the prices on them. It also works to encourage companies to change their practices.
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