Green Energy Advice You Really Need To Know
If you have considered green energy for a while, but are not sure where to begin, read on. Do you feel that “going green” is just too expensive? Don’t think about the past; read this article and change your home to how you’d really like it.
If you are thinking of designing your outdoor areas with lighting, consider using solar lamps instead of conventional power. Not only are they a reasonable purchase price, but they do not require electricity to run. They also save energy. It also ensures that there is no need to wire lights outdoor.
One of the simplest ways to help save the environment is to use less energy. If an appliance is not in use, unplug it. Be diligent about switching off the television or lighting if you aren’t using them. This simple suggestion helps cut your electricity bills.
Lower the cost of heating your indoor water, pools and hot tubs by switching to solar water heating systems. Heating water with electricity or natural gas is not very efficient, but solar water heaters harness energy from the sun to keep water at a steady temperature. Making some of these changes will cost you some money up front, but you can recoup some of these costs with tax deductions for using green energy.
Think about getting solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. Not only are they a reasonable purchase price, but they do not require electricity to run. They also save energy. You also don’t need to hang lights or wires outdoors.
Keep your windows shaded when trying to conserve energy. Curtains or blinds can also be used to do this. Doing these things will let you use less air conditioning in the summer. This means that you will save energy as well as money.
Conserve Energy
There are government grants available for investing in renewable energy. Check out your local government so that you can see what type of programs are available in your area. For instance, you might find that installation of wind or solar structures is free, or you might see a tax benefit by installing a tankless water heater.
One way to help conserve energy is to use window treatment to block sunlight. Adding some window coverings can also help. When you use these two things in tandem, you will find your heating and cooling bills will plummet. Not only does this conserve energy, but it lowers your utility bills.
Be socially responsible, and unplug electric chargers for all devices that don’t need immediate charging. 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.
Wash clothing in cold water. Almost 90 percent of energy consumed by washing machines is used when heating the water. As long as the washing detergent you use is reliable, using cold water instead of hot water will wash your clothes just as well. In addition, remember to wash full loads to maximize energy efficiency.
Are you a farm owner? If you own your farm property, you could allow an energy company to rent a small plot of your land, so they can install an energy-generating wind turbine. You and those around you can benefit from the free energy. A turbine doesn’t take up much space, either.
Consider solar water heaters to make your home more energy efficient. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are not a problem, you can purchase a system that heats water through a heater that is solar before it pumps it in your home. Though you can use this system, it’s best to have a regular water heater for backup purposes, just in case there is a day with little sunlight or more water usage than normal.
Instead of using the dryer, dry your laundry outdoors when weather permits. The sun can give clothing an incredible smell. Your clothes will smell fresher when dried naturally rather than in the dryer. Also, using your dryer less will save you money in energy costs on your utility bills each month.
Make sure that the batteries to store the power are placed as close as possible to the cells when installing your solar energy system. This avoids power loss in the cable. This can reduce chances of cables shading cells and reducing capabilities.
Turn off electrical items whenever you aren’t using them. When an area of the home is not being used, make sure that all TVs, lights and computers are turned off. Put all of your entertainment electronics on a power strip you can turn off, as this will stop appliances from going into a power draining stand-by mode.
Electric heaters are an energy hog and should be avoided as much as possible in the winter. They are not environmentally friendly. Wear several layers of warm clothes instead, and heat main rooms with a pellet stove or fireplace. This is good for your health as well as your electric bill. Breathing cooler air at night helps keep your respiratory system healthy; you’ll avoid drying out your airways.
Replace your tank-style water heater with a green, tankless model. Tankless water heaters do require energy for operation, but since they heat water on demand, power is not wasted by keeping a full tank hot 24/7. You can get a tankless heater that will supply the whole house or one that supplies a single hot-water faucet.
If you are trying to achieve a greener lifestyle, there are many options for you. You might not be capable of spending lots of money in going green, but there are simple things that you could do such as cleaning your furnace’s filters each month or by setting your heat at sixty degrees when you are not at home. Reduce water heater temperatures to 121 degress or less to save money. Every little thing you can do will help.
Use electric heaters minimally in the winter. Instead, invest in some warm clothing and slippers for family members and use a fireplace or pellet stove to heat living areas. Remember, cooler air during sleep is better for breathing, and keeps the airways from drying out.
Replace your toilet with a water-saving model. It’s estimated that as much as fifty percent of your water usage comes from the toilet. A water-saving toilet cuts that by about 70 percent.
Buy a solar oven to provide for the needs of your kitchen. Solar ovens can be created with old windows, boxes, and foil. This oven uses only solar energy and can reach cooking temperatures in excess of 300 degrees.
When purchasing anything made from wood, look for bamboo options. Bamboo is technically grass and is a “green product”, but it is often much stronger than other available woods. Since bamboo grows quite fast it is one of the best renewable choices you can make. You can find a variety of bamboo products, from floors to furniture to cutting boards for the kitchen. This saves on recycling energy and the production of manufacturing products.
There are countless things you can do it you want to live a environmentally friendly lifestyle. You can do things like clean your furnace or change the settings to 60 degrees when you aren’t at home. Setting your water heater to 120 F will also be an energy saver. Anything you can do will help!
What does it take to change your home so that you can use green energy to your advantage? If you’ve read this article, you have the answer to that question, but you have to start changing your habits if you want a greener home. Once you do it, you will find that the results are amazing.
Use LED holiday lights to help with green energy use. A US study shows We could save at least a couple billion kilowatt hours if each person would make this change. This electricity could power more than 200,000 houses for a year. At a minimum, you will lower your energy bill.
