Save Money And The Earth With These Green Energy Tips
Have you been thinking about green energy before but find that you’re unsure of where to start? Do you feel that it will be way too expensive?
Use a solar-solar powered system to heat water. Using natural gas and electricity is certainly the norm, but it’s not very energy efficient. By contrast, solar energy is very efficient, and it keeps water temperatures steady just as well as traditional heating methods. While some upgrades cost more initially, they can qualify you for deductions on your tax return for using green energy.
Solar water heaters use the sun’s heat water resulting in energy savings. You may get tax deductions for using energy efficient upgrades.
Check monthly to determine if your furnace’s filters need cleaning and replace them yearly. If your air intakes and registers do not have filters, take the time to install them. This will keep everything out of the air ducts, keeping your energy efficiency high.
Wear natural fabrics in the summertime instead of running your air conditioner. Wear light colors; dark colors since warmer ones can make you feel warm and you will be likelier to turn on the A/C.
Biodiesel is a great alternative to the standard oil used to heat a home. Sometimes you can make the switch to some use of biodiesel fuels without having to purchase new parts or make costly modifications. Biodiesel fuel runs more efficiently and is cleaner for the environment, reducing your home’s impact on the environment during winter months.
There are government grants that can help you invest in renewable energy. Contact local government and discover the different programs that exist locally. You may qualify for a free installation of solar power at little to no cost.
Cover your windows if you’re not going to be home. This cools the house and cuts energy costs. Try to close all your window coverings, but it is especially important to cover any south-facing windows. Cover all of these windows with curtains, blinds or roller shades.
Window Coverings
A good way to save money is to only turn on your dishwasher when you have a full load ready to go. It is wasteful to run the dishwasher with just a few items inside. You might be surprised by how much you can actually fit in the dishwasher. Place the dishes in your dishwasher so you can fit in as many dishes as possible.
Use window coverings when you’re not home. This keeps your house at a cooler temperature and your energy costs down when you’re not there. Try adding window coverings that block heat, roller shades, and dark curtains.
When you install a solar energy system, place the batteries close to the cells. No power will be lost during the transfer from the cells to the batteries by doing this. It also lowers the risk of the cable casting a shadow over the cells, which reduces their ability to generate power.
Find out about the various energy sources that are available in your area. Check the cost of running your home using these utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. You might be able to save money by switching to one or another may provide a reduction in energy use and cost.
Keep an eye on how many watts of electricity you use. Choose an energy monitor like the Kill-A-Watt or the Watt Minder to help you determine which devices and appliances consume the most energy. Using these devices with your appliances will tell you how much energy is used. This can let you see how much your devices really cost you.
The sun can really make your clothes an incredible smell. They will feel and smell a lot fresher than if you used the dryer. You will also save money on your utilities bills by line drying your laundry.
There is a lot you can do if you want to save energy. You may not be able to spend a lot of money going green, but you can start by cleaning furnace filters each month and setting heat at 60 degrees when not at home. Lowering the temperature of your water heater can save energy as well. Any little effort helps!
Pay attention to federal or local rebates associated with renewable energy for your house. Local utility companies may even offer rebates for upgrades. You may also be able to get tax deductions for making your home more energy efficient. These rebates and credits can substantially reduce the net cost of installing green energy technology considerably.
Use LED lights on the holidays to save electricity. A U.S. Department of Energy study shows that people waste a lot of energy on traditional Christmas lights. The Energy Department showed that more than two billion kh of power could be saved if everyone made the switch. Over 200,000 homes can be powered for a full year with that amount of energy. You could reduce the amount of your own utility bill as well.
If you are on the fence about whether to invest money in green energy for your home, have a heating expert or plumber provide an overview of the systems that you currently have in place. They will be able to tell you how much money you are losing on inefficient appliances, and they can give a detailed estimate on how much the costs will be to replace or upgrade your existing systems.
Heat your house with biofuels. Oil, wood and animal or vegetable fats are used to make this fuel. If you have a propane furnace, sometimes a technician can make modifications to enable you to use a blend of different fuels. Fuels are anywhere from 20-99 percent biodiesel. Talk to a professional before you use these types of fuels so you can do it safely.
Now you should see how you can make use of green energy technology in your home. This article has shown you how to find these answers and has hopefully provided the inspiration to get started. You will love the results you get from going green. They will exceed your wildest hopes.
Think about using a carpool more often than commuting to work if you want to cut the amount of fuel you use. Set up carpooling with other parents to get the kids to soccer practice or band camp. You can even carpool to the supermarket with your neighbors.
