You may be surprised at the range of options available to make your home more energy efficient. The intent of this article will give you the information necessary to implement a green energy system in your home or business.
Wear lightweight, natural fabric during the summer instead of running your air conditioner. Fabrics like cotton naturally draw moisture away from the skin, allowing it to stay cooler. Lighter colored fabrics will help you stay cooler without needing to turn on the air conditioner.
Solar panels are an excellent investment for the typical homeowner. There are a few things that should be further looked in to before installing them. The most important thing you need to consider is how much sun your home gets regularly.
You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. Before undertaking this project however, there are a few things to consider. Think about the amount of sunlight that hits your house on an average day. If you home is shaded, the amount of energy collected from solar panels will be greatly reduced.
Do you live on a large plot of land? If so, or if you have family who does, or renting land to a utility company for that purpose.
Reduce your energy consumption by unplugging anything that is not in use, especially battery chargers. Many chargers for various electronics continue to draw electricity even if they are not plugged into a device. The energy usage is not as high, but it wastes electricity and adds up to a considerable amount over time.
Use drapes or curtains in your windows for when you aren’t home. This helps to keep your house and lowers energy costs down when you’re not there. Try adding window coverings that block heat, such as shades or darker, and dark curtains.
Consult a technician for more information about switching to biodiesel heating if your home currently uses oil for heating. Many heating systems are able to change over to some biodiesel use without needing modifications or extra parts. Bio-diesel is more efficient and burns cleaner than conventional petroleum, which in turn, reduces the environmental impact from your home during the winter.
When planning a home solar system, use winter sunshine hours to determine what potential energy generation will be. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, and it keeps you ahead of the game for summer months.
Use windows covering for when you’re not home. This simple act blocks the sun from entering and heating your house in the summer, while in the winter, it keeps the heat from escaping through drafty windows. Generally, your home’s south-facing walls and windows receive the most sun exposure. Think about covering all of your windows with different types of shades and curtains.
This will prevent power loss in the cables.
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Investigate costs for using those utilities, and be aware of any legislation about energy costs. For instance, it might be worth it to switch to gas heat instead of electric, or switch to well water instead of municipal water.
Use a tankless water heater instead of a tank style heater. Tankless versions still need electricity or gas to heat water, but they only heat the water you actually need. Tankless heaters can be acquired in models that could give the entire home or certain faucets.
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. Don’t run it when there are only a few dishes there. You may be shocked to learn the number of dishes that can be loaded into a dishwasher. Align each dish carefully so that your dishwasher racks can accommodate the largest number of dishes.
Dressing warmly can be a great way to cut energy usage. A light sweater gives you 2 extra degrees of warmth, and a heavy sweater adds 4 degrees. You do not have to wear a small amount of clothing at home, get yourself some nice warm clothes you can use in your house today!
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. Storm windows and doors prevent cold air drafts filtering into openings. Homeowners will see a significant savings on their electric bill and will benefit from an increase in the energy efficiency of their home by up to 45 percent once stormed windows and doors are installed in their homes.
A solar oven is a great consideration if you are an easy and free way to bake. You can make one out of a box, boxes, and some foil. These types of oven can become very hot with adequate sunlight, while using no outside energy besides solar.
Dressing warmly can help you reduce energy and go green. 2 degrees of warmth is added by wearing a light sweater, and 4 degrees with a heavy one. It’s not necessary to dress good at home, so grab a sweater to save money.
Write yourself reminders to stay on top of new energy efficiency goals, and check each bill against last year to see if improvements were made. For instance, should you consciously decide to decrease your electricity or water use, then you are more likely to make a habit out of shutting off unused lights or appliances.
Opt out of snail mail where possible, and choose to get bills and notices by email. So, try your best to be as paperless as you possibly can. Going paperless helps the environment by limiting the amount of deforestation as well as the energy costs associated with paper communications. This benefits everyone in society along with your own business.
Use LED holiday lights on your Christmas tree or when decorating your home for Christmas. According to a study by the United States That much electricity could power at least 200,000 homes for an entire year. You can at least look forward to saving money on your electric bill.
Consider using a solar over when you wish to bake. Common items, such as a heavy cardboard box, some shiny foil and an old window are all that you need. You can reach an oven temperature of 300 degrees or more without using any other source of energy besides the sun. It only takes a few minutes to build a solar oven.
A really good energy is to switch your boiler. Most oil boilers weren’t made to consider saving energy, but newer ones are often fairly energy efficient. Newer boilers help by producing less carbon dioxide and reduce energy bills.
Try a water-saving commode in your bathroom. You can save a lot of water from being flushed away if you upgrade to an energy efficient model. An older model uses 5 gallons of water per flush, whereas a water-saving model only uses 1.6 gallons, saving about 70 percent on your yearly water use.
Less Energy
A good green energy tool is a tankless water heater. Unlike conventional water heaters, green water heaters are not constantly running, which wastes tons of energy. The water heaters that heat on-demand only heat water that is immediatly needed and save a lot on energy costs.
Get rid of your old appliances and replace them with Energy Star rating. Energy Star ratings mean that your new appliances are technologically built to use less energy than those made previously. For freezers and refrigerators, the rating promises 20% less energy used, 40 percent for dishwashers, and for washing machines at least 50% less energy used!
An easy way to start making your home energy-efficient is to talk to your electricity company. Lots of utility companies have information on their websites about your energy consumption and tips you can implement to save cash. Look into programs that help you buy energy-efficient appliances.
The venerable habit of turning of unnecessary lights when you exit a room. Turning off the lights will add up to great energy savings over time. You also will be saving money on your power bill.
Sealing your home from the weather will help conserve energy. You can reduce the energy needs of your home with energy efficient windows, heating and cooling systems, and by adding insulation and sealing ducts. Also, you will greatly reduce your energy bill.
An on-demand (tankless) water heater is a very effective energy saver. Traditional water heaters waste a lot of energy because they heat water constantly, which sits idle until it is used.
Check your refrigerator seals to avoid wasted energy. Broken seals can make your refrigerator run when it does not need to be, which wastes energy and hurts your pocketbook. In your door, place a piece of paper. If it easily slides out, your seal probably needs to be replaced.
Energy Star
Ceiling fans should also be used in the winter. Switch them to rotate in a clockwise position, which pushes warm air back down where you need it, and reduces your overall heating needs. The amount it costs to run ceiling fans is insignificant compared to the amount of energy necessary to run your furnace.
One simple way to recognize products and appliances that are energy efficient is to locate those with the ENERGY STAR logo. ENERGY STAR appliances must meet all the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPAThese products are usually the only ones eligible for tax rebates.
Install a programmable thermostat. This can help save money and energy. They include automatic programs to keep your heating and cooling use low. They can also be set differently depending on whether it is day or night.
The result is lower energy usage and maximized dollar saving.
Prioritize your efforts to go green by moving light usage to the top of your list. When the days are longer, leave your lights off as long as possible. Use dimmers to reduce light usage and use timers or sensors to ensure that unnecessary lights are never left burning once someone leaves a room.
A great way to save energy is by thawing all your frozen foods in the fridge. This is a safe way to thaw your foods.
Avoid using bottled water. Bottled water usually is just filtered tap water, and a lot of energy is used in the bottling process. Instead of buying bottled water, use a refillable bottle and a filter.
The more it is demanded, they more that they will be produced and prices will be lowered. It also encourage companies to change their manufacturing practices to maintain profitability.
A programmable thermostat is an effective green-energy device. These thermostats change the temperature according to what you are doing in your home. For instance, if you are gone or sleeping, your home will become cooler to save energy. As these models have advanced, the ability to schedule multiple operating times through the week or month, offer great power conservation.
Automatic ice maker use excess energy and are prone to breaking down. They are also more susceptible to leaky seals, which increases freezer temperatures. You can stay away from these troubles by making your own ice.
If you want to install solar panels, you have to point them towards the sun. For instance, the optimum angle for the Northern Hemisphere results in panels facing south at 15 degrees greater than the latitude at which they are installed. This way, you will be able to take full advantage of the solar power.
Green Energy
As seasons change, adjust your thermostat accordingly. Lower the thermostat in winter and raise it in summer. You will enjoy a comfortable temperature all year long, especially if you also adjust the way you dress to fit the season.
Because this article offers easy tips, don’t excuse yourself from using green energy. Becoming a green energy user allows for some peace of mind and more money in your budget. Implement these ideas today and make tomorrow a little brighter.
Business owners are surely aware of how expensive it is to use electricity to run your business. Try replacing electricity with solar energy. This will also help attract customers because people like green businesses. Many consumers prefer going to businesses that support green energy technology and care for the environment. Over time, you will attract more business, as people will respect your environmental action and message.