Green Energy Tips That Can Reduce Your Spending
You will probably be surprised at the range of options available to make your home more energy efficient. The tips in this article will give you with different methods to use green energy system in your home and benefit from it.
Outdoors, solar-powered lights are very convenient for patios and garden paths. These lamps aren’t very expensive and can save you on power bills because they’re powered by the sun. This will end up saving you a lot of energy. You also won’t have to spend time wiring your outdoor lights.
Simply cutting back on the amount of daily energy consumption can save a lot of energy. Unplug appliances when they’re not using them. Turn off lights and televisions when they are finished using them. This is an easy way of saving yourself some money.
Rather than using an air conditioner during the summer, wear clothes that are natural. Moisture-wicking athletic fabrics pull moisture away from your skin, creating a cooling sensation. Choose lighter colors so that you feel cooler and can resist turning up the air conditioning.
Wear natural fabrics instead of running your air conditioning during summer months. Wear light colors; dark colors since warmer ones can make you warm and you will be likelier to turn on the air conditioner.
Check with a technician and see if switching to biodiesel for your home instead of fuel oil is a viable option for you. Many systems can use biodiesels without any modification. Biodiesel burns much cleaner, is more efficient than petroleum, and will lessen the impact your home has on the environment in wintertime.
Use window treatments to shade the inside of your home when you are not home. This keeps your house cool and your energy used. Try adding window coverings that block heat, roller shades, lined curtains.
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 will guarantee you energy no matter the weather, and it will have you entering the summer safely without energy concerns as well. Be sure to get a net-usage plan with the energy company so that you can get money from them when you put the surplus energy onto their grid.
Solar water heaters are an inexpensive and efficient way to heat your home. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are not a problem, you can purchase systems that circulate water through solar heating systems before pumping it inside for use. However, consider that you may still need a traditional heater if you will be using a great deal of hot water, or if the sun does not come out.
When putting in a new solar energy system, the batteries that store the power should be kept really close together to the cells. Doing this will help prevent power loss within the cable. It also lessens any chance the cable will shade the cells, which reduces their generation capability.
When planning a home solar system, use winter sunshine hours to determine what potential energy generation will be. This can prevent surprises in the winter, and it can leave you ahead in the summer.
Storm doors and storm windows help to better control air flow in the home. This will reduce drafts, make your home more comfortable, and reduce your energy usage. Energy efficiency is increased by 45 percent in homes that have stormed doors and windows, which will save a lot of money on electricity.
Storm Windows
A laptop is actually a great alternative for consuming less energy as opposed to using a desktop. You can save a ton of electricity by using a laptop. Both the Internet and most word processing software packages use a lot of energy on desktop computers, so getting a laptop can really save money if you use these features. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!
Storm doors and storm windows help control air flow into a home. Storm windows dramatically reduce the cool air that tries to get into your home. Homes equipped with storm windows and doors increase in energy efficiency of up costing you a lot less on your utility bills.
Perhaps you are intimidated by making an large, green energy investment. Seeking the input of a professional, such as a heating/cooling specialist or plumber can educate you on options. They will let you know how much you can save by upgrading to more efficient appliances and systems, and also give you a good idea of how much it will cost.
Learn about the difference between passive and active solar power. Passive solar power is more basic and simply uses the sun for thermal energy in its existing state as heat storage.
Don’t turn your heat up too far in the home, unless you need to. If you are cold, put on sweatpants and a sweatshirt. This saves you from using energy that would be required to sustain heat at that high level.
If you are on the fence about whether to invest money in green energy for your home, get an expert to provide a consultation that will optimize your energy usage. They can provide an estimate of how much money inefficient appliances and systems are costing you, and quote the cost of a new system.
When Christmas or other holidays roll around, try LED decorative lights instead of traditional lights to spruce up your home. There are many studies from the U.S. to back this up. One study conducted by the Department of Energy found that if everyone in the U.S. switched to these lights, more than two billion kilowatt hours worth of power would be saved. This is enough energy to power 20,000 houses in one year. You can save money on your electric bill.
Try receiving as much as you can via email. In short, choose to go paperless in any way you can.
You can actually use biofuels to add heat for your home. Biofuels are usually composed of vegetable fats, animal fats, wood and oil. Propane furnaces can be changed to use multiple fuels. That would be around 20-99% biodiesel. Make sure you ask a professional before you attempt to utilize this type of fuel inside your household.
Avoid turning the heat in your home unless you have to. If it is a little chilly, wear warmer clothing, put on a sweatshirt or sweatpants. Having the heat turned up too high will consume a lot of unnecessary energy.
Replacing an old boiler can save energy. A lot of the old boilers weren’t constructed with energy saving in mind, as opposed to the newer ones which are much more energy efficient. Not only do they create less carbon dioxide, a poisonous gas, they can also lower your energy bill.
Make use of a solar oven for baking.You can make one out of a box, wood, and aluminum foil to reflect light. These types of oven can become very hot with adequate sunlight, while using no outside energy besides solar.
Use the microwave when you can in order to save on energy consumption. The stove and oven use a lot more energy to cook foods. If you can cook things in the microwave instead, do it! This will help save a lot of energy.
There is a lot of things you can do if you want reduce your environmental footprint on the planet. Lowering the temperature on your water heater can save energy as well. Every little thing you do will help.
If you are not in a room, do not keep the lights on. Shutting off your lights when you leave a room is a simple act, but it will surprise you by the amount of energy it saves. An additional benefit is the money you save on your monthly power bill.
Less Energy
One of the simplest ways to be environmentally friendly is to install a water-saving toilet. Some estimates show that toilets account for 50 percent of the water use in a home. Older toilets use 5 gallons per flush, whereas new models use less than 2 gallons.
Replace your old appliances with new ones featuring high Energy Star rating. Energy Star ratings mean that your new appliances are guaranteed to use less energy than previous models. For refrigerators and freezers, the rating promises 20% less energy used, for dishwashers 40% less energy used, and at least 50 percent when it comes to washing machines.
You may want to get bamboo items when you’re in the market for something made out of wood. Bamboo is actually a grass but is very green and actually much stronger than most woods that are commercially available. Many items are now available in bamboo. Try bamboo in your flooring, utensils, or cutting surfaces instead of traditional woods. This saves on recycling energy and the production of manufacturing products.
The easiest and best way to decrease energy expenses in the home is to simply turn off lights when leaving a room is still very effective. Turning off lights will save a surprising amount of energy. You also will be saving money on your power bill.
A really simple way to begin making your house energy-efficient is to get your electric company to help you. Many power companies have websites with tools that allow you to calculate your hourly energy consumption and tips for reducing your bill. They may also have programs that offer incentives for purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances.
Try using a toilet that saves water. Some estimates show that up to half of the water used in a home is from the toilet. An older model uses 5 gallons of water per flush, whereas a water-saving model only uses 1.6 gallons, almost 70 percent more.
Weatherizing your home is a great way to make it more energy efficient. Ideas to help weatherize your home include adding insulation, sealing furnace ducts and installing energy efficient windows. The lower energy use will also reduce your energy bill!
As we all know, it’s easy to let excuses keep us from introducing greener ways into our lives, but the tips we have given show how simple it can be. Taking a little time now to switch to green energy will pay off big-time in the future, for both your family and your planet.
It is a good idea to check the seal of your fridge and freezer frequently to avoid wasting energy. Broken or compromised seals allow cold air to leak, causing your appliance to run more often, and your energy bills to increase. 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.
