Green Energy – More Than Just An Alternative Choice
Green energy can be used in many different ways, and it’s easier than you may think. The point of this article is to arm you with the information needed to begin a lifestyle of being green in your energy consumption and save in the process.
One way to help conserve energy is to use window treatment to block sunlight. Using curtains or blinds is a good way to block unwanted sunlight. If you do both of these it will cool your house down so you won’t have to use as much air conditioning in the summer. You will save energy and money.
Lower the cost of heating your indoor water, pools and hot tubs by switching to solar water heating systems. Heating water with natural gas or electricity is not that efficient, but with solar energy, water takes the suns energy and keeps temperatures steady. While some upgrades cost more initially, they can qualify you for deductions on your tax return for using green energy.
Solar panels are an easy addition to your home that helps you and your family go green. But, you must think about some things prior to doing this. One thing to factor into your considerations is the amount of sun your house actually gets over the year. You can’t take as much advantage of solar energy if your house gets a lot of shade rather than sun.
Do you own a farm? Companies are actually looking for space to put wind turbines in, and a small part of your property can be used as one of those spots. The turbine will provide free energy to you and close neighbors, and won’t take up much space.
When you can, wash your clothes using cold water. Hot water takes up 90% of energy used to wash clothing. Washing your clothing in cold water will get them just as clean as washing them in hot water if you have a good laundry detergent. Only wash when you have a full load of clothes to put in the washer.
Wash clothes with cold water, as much as you can. If you use warm or hot water in your washing machine, almost 90% of your energy use goes towards heating the water. Just make sure you don’t harm your clothes in the process; check out the labels on your clothes and make a judgment for yourself. Don’t forget to wait until you have a full load of laundry to wash; that is the energy efficient way.
When not using things, turn them off. When you leave an area take the time to turn off lights, televisions, stereos, computers, and other electrical items you are not going to be using. Get a power strip so you can turn off all of your electronics at the same time, rather than letting energy get wasted in standby mode.
If you aren’t home, use a window covering. This will keep the house cool and reduce energy costs. Usually the windows with the most sun are the one’s which face south. Therefore, it is especially important to use heavy window coverings on these windows.
You can obtain hot water for a cheap cost with solar energy. Upgrade your hot water system to one that’s solar-powered. Two types are available, direct and indirect. For colder regions,indirect is a better option.
Turn it off. Turn it off. Turn it off. When exiting rooms, turn off the computer, television or lights. A power strip offers a handy way to shut down multiple devices at once, and it prevents passive electrical use due to standby modes.
When planning the solar system used in the home, use winter sunshine hours to determine what potential energy generation will be. That will help you avoid negative surprises in the winter, and it will give you plenty of leeway during the summer. You can actually get money back from your utility company for any energy your generate if you’re on the net usage plan.
Calculate potential energy generation during the planning of buying home solar systems. This will ensure that you are not caught short during winter, and you have excess during the summer. If you generate excess energy during the summer, with the right plan, your utility company will send you a check!
Do maintenance on your fridge to save money. Because refrigerators use so much energy, it really pays to keep them working as efficiently as possible. Regularly make sure the heating coils are dust-free. In addition to that, make the seal near the door clean and tight.
Use electric heaters minimally in the winter. Buy more warm clothing and use a fireplace to add heat to your home. Keep in mind that it is actually better to breathe cool air while you sleep, since it keeps your airways from becoming dry.
To help prevent drafts, install storm doors and storm windows. They will help prevent cold air drafts in your 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.
Buy energy saving materials to help save energy in your home. If you install double-glazing on your windows, weather-sealed doors, and other similar products, you can drastically decrease the amount of electricity needed for your home. This type of product is perfect for reducing AC costs.
There are products available for purchase that can help you reduce your energy costs. Some green items, like environmentally freindly doors, will reduce your energy usage by a lot. Your heat and cooling costs can drop dramatically by using these products.
Create reminders for yourself in order to stay focused on your energy efficiency goals. Try to check your utility bill occasionally in order to see the progress you are making. Just being conscious of the energy that you use will help you reduce them significantly. It can be hard at first, but once you make conserving energy a routine it will become second nature to you, and will pay off greatly on your energy bills.
Look for rebates at the local and federal levels for updating your home to renewable energy sources. Sometimes, your local utility company can give you a rebate based on what the upgrades cost. You may also get state and federal tax deductions for making your home more energy efficient. These rebates and credits can substantially reduce the cost of installing green energy technology in your home.
A home heating alternative to be considered is biofuel. Biofuels contain wood, oil and fat. You can find a professional to change your furnace if it is propane so that it can heat with the blend of fuels. That is roughly 20 to 99 percent biodiesel. Professionals should be consulted before any changes are made to your current furnace.
One easy, common sense tip to save energy is to shot off all the lights when you exit a room. Do this at all times. Get yourself into the habif of always turning lights off and you can save a lot of energy. An additional benefit is the money you save on your monthly power bill.
Carpooling is a great way to get to many places; not only work. If you live in a neighborhood with lots of children, try setting up a ride-sharing service, where you trade rides with other parents in the neighborhood. You can even carpool to the supermarket with your neighbors.
A water heater that provides hot water on demand is a wonderful appliance for green energy. Traditional water heaters constantly keep a full tank of water hot, which sits idle until it is used. Using an on-demand water heater is a great way to save both energy and money.
This article is full of easy, simple tips, which means there is no excuse not to get started. Greening your home will save you money, help the environment and bring you some peace of mind!
Upgrade your home’s electronics and appliances to save yourself some cash in the future. Even though green technology may be costlier, it pays off in the long run when you see cheaper utility bills. It can also have a beneficial impact on the environment in the long term.
