Reconfiguring your home to use less energy is easier than it has ever been before. With some small changes you can decrease your carbon footprint and save money. This article will show you how to get started.
Use a solar-solar powered system to heat water. Solar water heaters are much more energy efficient than electric or gas-driven water heating systems. Solar systems use the sun’s energy to stabilize water temperature. You may be eligible for tax deductions for using energy efficient upgrades.
Wear natural fabrics instead of always using the air conditioning during summer. Cotton and other natural fabrics actually remove moisture from the skin, resulting in a cooler feel. Lighter colors also make you feel cooler.
Cut down on air conditioning by wearing natural fibers in the summer. Moisture-wicking athletic fabrics pull moisture away from your skin, creating a cooling sensation. Lighter colors also make you feel cooler.
Wash clothes with cold water. The vast majority of the energy you use for washing clothes is needed to heat the water. Using a quality detergent means it is unnecessary to use hot water. Also, make sure your load is a full one so you do not waste energy washing several small loads.
When battery chargers and other electronics are not in use, unplug them. They may not be currently in use, but items such as cell phone chargers, laptops and mp3 players draw energy when left plugged in.
Think about getting solar heaters to heat up your water at home. Best for locations with a warmer climate, a solar water heater uses the sun’s energy to heat water that circulates through it. Don’t get rid of your conventional water heater though; you may need it if it’s cloudy when you’re ready to use hot water.
Replace or clean your furnace filter at least once every 90 days, and check it once per month for build-up. Also, put filters on vents that dispense warm air. These filters keep debris or toys from entering the duct-work, which could reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.
Don’t use electric heaters unless you have to during the winter months. You can save electricity by avoiding these devices. 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. You will breathe better during your sleep if the air is cool.
If you use oil to heat your home, see if biofuel can be used instead. Many systems will take a switch to some level of biodiesel without any extra parts or modifications. Biodiesel burns cleaner and more efficiently than conventional petroleum, reducing your home’s environmental impact during the winter.
A laptop is actually a great alternative for consuming less energy as opposed to using a desktop. This can cut up to 75% of your electrical use, especially if you are frequently on the Internet or using word processing software. Not only that, the laptop offers you the benefit of taking it anywhere.
If you prefer to use your dishwasher to wash your dishes, only run it when it is full to capacity. The energy used is the same whether you are washing a small load of dishes, or one that is larger. Make sure you are using the energy saving settings on your dishwasher that will air-dry your dishes.
When you put up lights during the holidays, avoid the normal light strands and hang LED lights instead. LED’s have been shown to save a significant amount of energy. The Department of Energy says that if everyone did this, the country would conserve more than 2 billion kilowatt power hours. That’s enough to power a quarter of a million houses for a year! At a minimum, you will lower your energy bill.
If you try to promote living sustainably then use your heater as little as you can during winter. 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. In addition, this is beneficial to your health, as cooler air keeps your airways from getting too dry, allowing you to breathe easier while sleeping.
Energy Star
Seek out local and federal rebates offered for making energy upgrades to your home. Some utility companies also provide rebate opportunities for the installation of green technologies. In some cases, there could be credits or tax deductions either from the federal or state government. These credits and rebates could reduce the cost associated to installing green technology in your house.
Replace aging major appliances with ENERGY STAR appliances. If you buy an Energy Star-rated appliance, it is guaranteed to use far less energy than the one it replaced. 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.
If you don’t know about investing a lot into green energy in your home, hire pros, such as heating experts and plumbers, to give you an assessment of your current systems. These professionals can explain how efficient your systems are, and how much it will probably cost to change or replace them.
If you want to save energy, do the obvious, well-known thing: turn off lights every time you leave the room. Just turning off lights helps to conserve quite a bit of energy. You will also save on your electric bill.
Try to communicate to people as much as possible through email rather than traditional means. Live a paperless lifestyle whenever possible. You will save valuable energy and help the businesses you use to save also. This protects the environment, too.
Spending the extra money on buying green electronics and appliances pays off in the long run. Although green technology is a bit more expensive, it quickly pays for itself in lower bills. It is also one more positive impact on the environment that compounds.
Avoid cranking the heat in your home unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you’re cold, put on a warm sweatshirt and some cozy socks. Having the heat up high wastes a lot of energy.
Try switching your old windows for more energy-efficient ones. There are many benefits to using these windows–you will see smaller energy bills, your home will be more quiet, you will not have as much carbon dioxide, and you will see less condensation on your windows.
A simple way to jump on the green energy bandwagon is through your utility provider. Many electric companies can give you data showing your peak hours of energy consumption and ways to reduce energy consumption. Be sure that you take advantage of programs that provide incentives for the purchase of green items like light bulbs or appliances.
Energy Star
Putting the heat to 60 degrees in the middle of the night, or when you’re gone, is a great way to conserve energy. 60 degrees uses the smallest amount of possible energy. You will save money and energy by doing this.
One simple way to recognize products and appliances that are energy efficient is to locate those with the ENERGY STAR designation. The ENERGY STAR seal indicates appliances that meet the guidelines which have been established by the U.S. Department of Energy and additionally the Environmental Protection Agency. The products with this distinction are often the only eligible ones that can be used for tax rebates.
Don’t stop using ceiling fans in the winter. Warm air is pushed down when the fan is running in a clockwise rotation. The amount of electricity used by the fan is offset by energy savings you acquire by not running your heater as much.
The addition of solar panels on your home will make your home greener. The cost of installing solar panels is small compared to the amount you will save over the years on energy bills. Once you have the solar panels hooked up to your home’s energy system, your solar energy will be free, and can even earn you money if you sell the surplus to your local energy company.
There are a lot of things you can do to save energy when you wash your laundry. Use a dryer with a moisture sensor that shuts the dryer down when the clothes have finished drying. Use the high-spin option, which reduces the moisture in the laundry, which helps to shorten drying time. See to it that you clean your dryer’s filters often and check occasionally for blockages in your dryer’s vent.
Energy Efficient
Set your water heater’s temperature to about 120 degrees if you would like to go green and lower your bills. This way, you can save up to ten percent on your energy bill for a four-person family. You will still get enough hot water and it will be safer for children as well.
Weatherizing your home is a great way to make it more energy efficient. Your home will need less energy to run if you have items such as energy efficient windows and insulation. this will also lead to a decrease in your energy bill.
Help reduce the cost of green energy by increasing the demand for it. Consumers have the power to ignite significant change in the products that are being developed. If your voice is heard, and your vote is in the balance, the prices on green alternatives will be forced to go down. This will also encourage companies to align their processes in order to maintain profitable manufacturing practices.
Use your lights responsibly to make a greener home. In the brighter months, don’t turn lights on until past a certain time. You can use dimmers, which reduces light usage, and you can use timers and/or sensors to make sure any unnecessary lights are turned off when someone exits the room.
People who want to save energy should create their own ice. Automatic ice makers use more energy and often break down. Another downfall to ice makers is that they can break or leak. Therefore, one way to save energy is to make your own ice.
Save some money by looking into placing your freezer or refrigerator in a part of the house that is usually cooler. Keep them away from sunlight and heating vents, since this can increase the temperature and make them run longer.
Rainwater can be used effectively in your home, for example, in the toilet. This can help you to save on your water bills and also helps out with the environment. Storing rainwater for later use is easy. Just set a bunch of glass jars outside before the rain begins, and put a lid on them once the water has been collected.
Reducing your water heater temperature to 120 degrees can save energy and money in your home. You can see significant savings on your energy bill while still having water that is hot enough for your needs.
A good device for green energy is a programmable thermostat. These type of thermostats regulates your house’s temperature when you’re not at home and when you’re sleeping so that it is not cooling and heating your house for no reason. Certain models use multiple stop and start times to increase energy conservation.
You can make small improvements to your home to make it more energy efficient, such as changing the type of light bulbs you use. Of course, you can also make large-scale improvements such as putting in solar panels. Some simple changes that you can make yourself can have a huge impact on efficiency and your energy bill. Start off by choosing and implementing just one mini-project right away!
When you install solar panels, make sure that they’re facing the sun. For instance, panels in Northern Hemisphere locations need to face south at a 15 degree angle. This will make certain your panels receive as much possible sunlight for power.
New jobs in the renewable energy sector are constantly being created. You should consider this sector if you are thinking about changing jobs or advising your children on what their career options are. You should study green energy job opportunities, such as wind technician positions, to learn what they involve.
Think about upgrading your home cooling and heating system to a system that is geothermal. HVAC systems use underground pipes containing water and refrigerant rather than conventional systems. All these pipes lead to a machine that provides heat to the home, or cools it if required. This type of system is more efficient as the below-ground temperatures are steadier than outside air temperatures.
Turn these ideas into strategies you can use in your own home to create a greener environment. You will save much on energy costs, and you will also reduce your carbon footprint on the environment. Take small steps and soon you will be entirely relying on green energies!
Periodically check your oven’s seal to ensure that heat isn’t being lost when the oven is running. A broken seal can easily cause your oven to use up to 50% more energy, so make sure to check the seal of your oven periodically.
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