Green Energy Ideas That You Could Put To Use
If you are curious about greener energy sources, and how they apply to your life and home, not only to the environment but to you as well.
When it’s hot outside, wear clothing made of natural materials rather than running the air conditioner. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw the moisture further from your skin and let it stay cooler. Wear lighter colors, as warmer colors make you feel warmer and more likely to put on artificial cold air.
Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat water rather than using natural gas or electricity for heat. You may be eligible for tax deductions to offset the expense of installing some of this technology.
You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. It is important, however, that you do your homework before making the leap. What you need to know first is how much of the sun does your home generally receive? If the area is shady, or you are in a region that doesn’t receive much sunshine, then you won’t be gaining much power.
Use drapes or curtains in your windows for when you’re not home. This cools down your house cool and reduce energy costs. Try adding window coverings that block heat, such as shades or darker, and dark curtains.
Make your home more energy efficient by unplugging your unused electronic devices. Chargers for cell phones, mp3 players, laptops and other devices draw some power when they are plugged in, regardless of whether you are actually charging the device.
Solar energy is a great way to get hot water. Consider investing in a solar water heater. You can select from a direct circulation systems or indirect varieties. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have pipes during the winter.
Think about heating your water with solar water heaters. This option is only applicable in areas that do not reach freezing temperatures. If you live in a warm climate, you can use a system that pumps your water through the solar heater before coming out of your pipes. As is true with many solar options, you should keep your traditional water heater for times when there is not enough sun, or in case you need to use a lot of water.
This will prevent any power loss in the cable.
Do your research when it comes to the available energy sources where you live. Look into the cost of operating your home with each of your options, keeping in mind any recent changes to legislation about energy costs. Switching from electricity to gas, or from your city water supply to a well, may save you money.
Instead, wear multiple layers, robes and slippers, and heat your living areas with a pellet stove or fireplace.
If you want to reduce your carbon footprint as well as save some money, do a load of dishwashing only when the dishwasher is filled to capacity. Properly loading the dishwasher prior to running it will save both energy and money. You might be surprised by the number of items that you can fit in your dishwasher. Carefully align your dishes so that you can place as many dishes into it as possible.
You can use bio-fuels to heat your home. These fuels use fats, wood and oils. This fuel would change the conversation to around 20-99% biodiesel. Make sure you ask a professional first before you attempt to utilize this type of fuel out.
Turn off electrical items when you’re not using them. When you exit a room, be sure to turn off any unused electronics or lights. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.
The venerable habit of turning of unnecessary lights and devices when you exit a room is still very effective.Turning off the lights will add up to great energy savings over time. You also have the added benefit of saving money when it comes to your power bill.
Don’t run the dishwasher unless it is filled to capacity. Your dishwasher consumes the same energy and water, even if it is half full. Make sure you are using the energy saving settings on your dishwasher that will air-dry your dishes.
Use automatic motion or sound sensors for lighting in your rooms. These sensors will automatically turn off the lights of rooms that are currently not in use, which saves energy, and in the long run, a lot of money! Also try this on your outdoor lights, too.
Keep up-to-date with tax rebates for making your home more energy-efficient. Local utility companies may even offer rebates or other assistance with upgrades. If not, there might be tax credits or deductions available from the federal or state government. You can lower the cost of putting green energy into your home by using these credits or rebates.
The resulting effect is energy usage cuts and maximized dollar saving.
Try to communicate more via email. In other words, choose paperless options anytime you can. This will save the businesses you deal with a great deal on energy costs and mailing expenses. In addition, it also protects the environment.
Energy Efficient
Unless you’re freezing to death, don’t turn the heat all the way up. If it is a little chilly, simply put on a sweatshirt, and pair of sweatpants. If you turn the heat up to 75 degrees, you are using a ton of unnecessary energy.
You can greatly reduce your home’s energy by sealing ducts, installing energy efficient windows, 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 may also help reduce the cost of your energy bill in the process.
Switching out your boiler for a newer, more efficient model can be a great way to save energy. Older boilers were not created with energy conservation in mind, but newer boiler varieties are more efficient. Not only do the newer ones emit less carbon dioxide and are healthier, they will greatly lower your energy bill costs as well.
Heat each room of your home separately. This works particularly well if you own a larger homes.
Try installing a toilet that saves water. Toilets account for fifty percent of the water used in a home. Older models typically waste 5 gallons to flush, whereas newer models that are water-saving use about 10.6 gallons. This can save 70% of your water usage each year.
Ceiling fans are not just useful in the winter months. Switch them to go clockwise and they will help push the warm air down, which pushes warm air down.
Even though people know better, they often forget to turn off unused appliances, lights and computer equipment. By being more conscious and vigilant, they can help save both the planet and money on their electric bills. Make a conscious effort to ensure your lights and appliances are switched off when not being used.
During months that are brighter, keep light usage to certain times of the day. Try installing timers and dimmers to control your light usage of lights.
Remember that buying green technology is an investment that will pay off later. Oftentimes, green technologies are a bit more expensive than their traditional counterpart; however, investing in green electronics and appliances will pay off with savings from decreased energy consumption. It will also make a big difference for the environment.
There are a few different ways you can conserve energy while doing laundry. Start by using moisture control settings that turns your dryer off when clothes are dry. Use the high-spin speed to reduce moisture in clothes and thereby shorten drying time as well.
Make better use of ceiling fans during cold weather. If you make them rotate clockwise, they push air down which warms up the room. The energy you will save from not having to use the furnace as much will cover what you need for the fan.
A great way to help save energy is by thawing all your frozen foods in the refrigerator. This is a safe way to thaw your foods.
To reduce the amount of energy refrigerators and freezers require, put them in a cool place. Try to keep these appliances out of direct sunlight or heating vents, as this can raise the temperature, causing them to run for longer periods of time.
Save energy by putting your freezer or refrigerator in a part of the house that is usually cooler. Don’t put them in sunlight or by heating vents since this unnecessarily raises the temperature.
One way to save money on energy costs is to drop the temperature to 120 degrees on the water heater. A four-person household could save up to 10% on gas or electric bills, and your hot water temperature will still be hot enough to be safe.
Bottled water comes from other city’s taps, and the the whole bottling process uses too much energy. If you do not trust the tap water in your community, buy a metal water bottle that can be used over and over again, or even a Brita water jug.
Consider using rainwater for different things in your home, like your toilet. This saves money on the water bill and is good for the environment, too. To get rainwater all you have to do is place jars outside when it’s about to rain, and then close the lids after they’re filled.
These devices collect real-time measurements of the electricity you are using and estimate of what your bill will be. Research shows that customers are likely to reduce energy consumption if they know how much the bill will be.
On your quest to live more green, you can start by doing simple things like changing out old light bulbs to more energy efficient ones. Just a few different projects you can do yourself will allow you to save money and energy in your home. Start with one small project and you’ll be on the path to a greener life!
One green energy devices out there is the humble programmable thermostat. The newer devices permit programs to be used so you to program different beginning and end times throughout the day.
Consider using Eco-friendly lighting. More efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent or LED styles, do cost more, but can pay for themselves in the energy they save. These bulbs provide the same amount of light as standard bulbs, but they use far less electricity. Every little piece of friendliness towards the environment helps, even when it is within your home.
Eco-friendly lighting is something you should be considered. They don’t use as much less energy as regular bulbs while still providing light. This can help your home environmentally friendly.
Light wall colors can also help save energy. The darker your walls, the more energy you will have to use to brighten the room. Choosing lighter colors for your walls not only saves you money on energy costs, but it also makes your home feel naturally brighter.
Think about using a geothermal system to heat and cool your home’s energy efficiency. HVAC systems run underground pipes containing water and refrigerant rather than conventional systems. The pipes are connected to a machine that heats or cools the home.
Ascertain that you are not losing energy because of a damaged seal on your oven. 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.
A good tip to help save energy while cooking is to use your oven light. By using the light to check your food instead of opening the door, since a great amount of heat does escape when the oven is open.
One easy way to stay green in summertime is to set your thermostat’s temperature five degrees higher than normal. You can save up to 20% of the cost of cooling your home. To aid in cooling off your home, try running fans instead of the air conditioner to lower your costs.
Dark walls tend to cause more energy usage as you try to brighten up the room, meaning that your home is not as “green” as it could be. By opting for light-colored walls, your home will feel lighter naturally, which ends up saving you money on energy costs.
You can cut your energy usage by taking the battery out of your laptop and running from the AC outlet only, if you are stationary. The battery does not need anymore energy once it is to capacity. If you then remove it, you will save the life on your battery.
Solar Panels
Business owners know how expensive it is to use electricity costs can be. Look into solar panels for your business and use it like a marketing strategy when attracting customers. Many people are happy to support businesses that use green technology and protect the environment. Over time, all of that extra business you’ve attracted will pay off the cost of the solar panels, as people will respect your environmental action and message.
A straw bale home offers a great option for green consumers. Straw provides excellent insulation as well as being inexpensive to use. If you don’t want to build an entire house from straw bales, try including a small structure.
This advice on how to use green energy will soon yield great benefits to you. Of course, the environment will also be a benefactor of your efforts. Use what you’ve learned today and you’ll be amazed at how easy going green was!
