Many people want to go green but have no idea how to start living the greener life they desire. There are plenty of ways that consumers can use renewable energy solutions that are perfect for consumers to do their part. The following article offers you advice on how you can begin to use green energy into your life now.
Solar panels are easy to install. However, before doing this, you need to consider a few things. The most important thing that needs to be taken into consideration is to determine how much sun your home gets on average. Shade is valuable in some respects, but when you are considering solar energy it can be a complicating factor.
Solar water heaters use the sun’s heat water resulting in energy savings. You may be eligible for tax deductions to offset the expense of installing some of this technology.
Whenever possible, use cold water to wash your clothing. The vast majority of the energy you use for washing clothes is needed to heat the water. If you are using good quality washing detergent, cold water is effective. Don’t forget to wait until you have a full load of laundry to wash; that is the energy efficient way.
There are grants that can help you invest in renewable energy. Check out your local government and see what programs are available in your area. You may qualify for installation of solar power at little to no cost.
Make sure that the batteries to store the power are placed as close as possible to the cells when installing your solar energy system. Doing so removes the chance of lost energy. Additionally, it avoids problems with shading and capacity reduction.
Wash clothing in cold water whenever possible. Almost ninety percent of the consumed energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating the water. If your laundry detergent is a high quality brand, cold water will be as effective as hot when cleaning your laundry.
Always be consistent in maintaining your fridge. Since refrigerators are one of the high-consumption appliances, it’s crucial that you keep it running efficiently. Use your duster to clean around your heating coils on a regular basis. In addition to that, make the seal near the door clean and tight.
Many heating systems can be switched over to run on biodiesel without any modification.
Storm doors and windows help control air flow into a home. These kinds of doors and windows reduces the amount of cold air that comes into the home. Energy efficiency is increased by 45 percent in homes that have stormed doors and windows, which will save a lot of money on electricity.
Solar energy is a great way to get hot water. Consider a hot-water system that runs off of solar water heater. You can choose from a direct circulation systems or an indirect varieties. Indirect is the best option for those who have pipes which often freeze in the winter.
Learn about the differences between passive and active solar power. Active power is energy that gets stored and is used later. Passive is energy that can be used without expensive cells. To use active power it requires mechanical systems, solar panels and cells. Passive power, instead, just stores the energy gotten from the sun inside your home.
When thinking about home solar systems, try calculating what the energy generation of your system will be when you use hours worth of sun in the winter. This prevents unpleasant surprises in the winter, and it will result in a surplus during the summer.
A good way to save on your electric bill is to switch to a laptop computer rather than using a desktop. These portable machines will reduce your electrical use by 75% while you do everyday tasks. The laptop has the added benefit of being portable, so you can use it anywhere!
Take the time to properly inspect your refrigerator. Refrigerators use a large amount of energy, so it’s crucial to make sure it is running effectively. Make sure you clean out any dust from the refrigerator’s heating coils. Make sure door seal is clean and tight.
Don’t use a lot of heat during the winter if it’s not absolutely necessary. If you are feeling cold, add a layer of clothing instead of reaching for the thermostat. You waste a lot of energy if you put the heat on higher than necessary.
Use a tankless water heater instead of one that uses a tank style heater. Tankless water heaters still require power to heat the water, but since they heat water on demand, rather than heating a tank of water that you’re not always using. Tankless heaters can supply the whole house or certain faucets.
Buy a solar oven to provide for the needs of your kitchen. You can make this by using a piece of foil, a box, and an old window. The internal temperature of these easy-to-build ovens can top 300 degrees, and they do not require any energy besides the sun’s rays.
Instead, make sure each member of your family has sweaters, robes and slippers, or even consider investing in a stove or fireplace.
Leave yourself reminder notes to decrease energy usage, and frequently compare past bills with current ones to see if you’re making strides. Increasing your consciousness of your energy consumption can help you cut back. Your deliberate efforts to reduce your electricity or water consumption will have a significant impact on your ability to form habits out of turning off lights and shutting down appliances.
Learn about the difference between passive and active solar power. While passive simply using the sun to store thermal energy inside your walls to heat your house.
You can use biofuels as a heat source for your home. These fuels are comprised of oils, woods, vegetable, or animal fats. If you have a propane furnace, a professional will be able to adjust your system so you can heat your home using a fuel blend. You would want to use roughly 20-99 percent bio-fuel, depending on your house size and what a professional thinks is right. Before you try to use this kind of fuel inside your house, just make sure you speak to a professional.
A solar oven can be an avid baker. You can make one out of a box, wood, and an old window. These ovens reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
Save money and fuel by carpooling for errands as well as work and school. Parents can trade off driving duties and carpool neighborhood kids to school together. If you love in close proximity to family members or friends, try to synchronize your shopping trips with them, and you can each take turns driving.
You can use bio-fuels to heat source for your home. This type of fuel is made of oils, vegetable oil and wood. This would contain anywhere from 20-99% biodiesel. Make sure you talk with a professional first before you try this type of fuel inside your household.
Install a toilet that uses less water. Experts estimate that almost half of a home’s use of water is flushed. Older toilet models use up to 70 percent more water per year than newer ones.
If you have kids, organize a carpooling system with your neighbors and trade off driving days among all the participating parents. You can even carpool to the supermarket with friends that live near you.
The easiest way to find these appliances is to look on them for an Energy Star badge. ENERGY STAR appliances meet guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR products are useful for tax credits.
Energy Star
Use motion detection sensors on lights in the most popular rooms of your house. These sensors will automatically turn off the lights of rooms that are currently not in use, saving on energy and, in turn, a lot of money! Remember to include the lights above the garage, as well.
Replace any old appliances with new ones featuring high Energy Star rated appliances. Energy Star ratings mean that your new appliances are technologically built to use less energy than those made previously. The rating promises refrigerators and freezers will use 20 percent less energy, refrigerator and dishwasher use if you switch to Energy Star appliances.
Attach solar panels to the roof of your home to make it greener. Although you may have to pay a sizeable amount to install these solar panels, you will make this money back within a few years via power savings. Once the panels are in place, solar power is free. In some cases, you might be able to sell excess power your panels produce to local utility companies.
Use a microwave when you can to save energy while cooking. Ovens use lots more energy than microwaves. Take advantage of the microwave when you can to cut down on your overall energy consumption.
Help keep the costs of green or renewable energy technologies lower by demanding them. You have the right–and the power–as a consumer to ask for more environmentally friendly technologies from the companies you support. When enough people combine their buying power, the industry will respond by offering a wider range of environmentally friendly products at lower costs. It will also encourage manufacturers to change their manufacturing practices to maintain profitability.
The venerable habit of turning of unnecessary lights when you exit a room is still very effective. Turning off lights habitually will save a surprising amount of energy. You also will be saving money on your power bill.
Bottled water is something you’re going to have to stop using. Bottled water is usually water that came from another city’s tap, and a lot of energy is wasted by the bottling process. If you want to drink tap water but don’t trust the source, consider buying a filter for your tap, or even a Brita water jug.
Although this may seem like common sense, usually, appliances and electronics on when they are not using them. By being more conscious and vigilant, a person’s energy bill can be greatly reduced.
Buy a type of home energy monitor so that you can see how much energy your home uses. These devices will collect measurements of the electricity you are using and can give you an estimate of what your electric bill will look like. It has been proven that people use less energy when they have a clear idea of how much it cost to use the energy.
Use automatic motion detection sensors on lights in your house. These sensors automatically turn the lights off in rooms that aren’t being used, which saves energy, in turn, lots of money. Also try this on your outdoor lights, too.
Shut off the lights when you aren’t around. There is no reason to burn lights during the day or even at night unless you are actually using the room being illuminated. Porch lights and cabinet lights should be left off if they are not needed. This can lower the amount of energy you use.
You can shave a significant amount from your utility bills by installing a programmable thermostats. These thermostats have pre-programmed settings that will regulate temperatures in your home in both summer and winter or summer. You can also set certain temperatures in the day and night hours.
Insist that your government pass laws that help encourage companies to use green energy. Awareness is a great tool that is not used well. If consumers know what companies avoid using green energy technology in order to make more money, people may not use them. It is important that all businesses are held accountable for their energy use, so as to encourage others to do the right thing by embracing green energy.
Green Energy
Eco-friendly lighting solutions are a great option that every homeowner should consider. Compact fluorescent bulbs, CFLs, are affordable and environmentally friendly. They provide an adequate amount of light while using a fraction of the energy necessary for regular bulbs. This can be a great start for becoming environmentally friendly in the home.
As oil becomes more scarce, it is important to focus on green energy options for the future of our planet and our economy. It’s easier to figure out how to use green energy on a daily basis if you are educated about it. By utilizing the information located above, you can begin living an environmentally friendly life today.
Thermostat settings should be adjusted according to the season. Lower the thermostat in winter and raise it in summer. Doing this, while adding or removing layers of clothing, will mean that your house uses less energy to maintain a reasonable temperature setting.