How To Go Green With Your Energy
In these times, we are trending towards finding different solutions to use green energy in our everyday lives. What’s green energy? Green energy is energy deemed to be renewable thanks to energy-efficient technology, and it has significant environmental benefits. Green energy is so accessible that any home can use it, as you will see through the following article.
Use a solar water heater to keep your pools, tubs and plumbing full of piping hot, but cheap, water. Solar water heaters tap into the abundant and free energy offered by the sun. Water heated by other methods, like natural gas, propane, or electricity, is not an efficient method. While a few of the upgrades are costlier up front, they might be eligible for tax deductions or green energy tax credits.
Instead of turning on the air conditioner, wear fabrics made of natural materials. Cotton and other natural fabrics actually remove moisture from the skin, resulting in a cooler feel. Wear lighter colors since warmer ones can make you warm and cause you to rely on the A/C.
Shading windows from sunlight whelps to save energy. You could also try putting in curtains or blinds. By utilizing these ideas, you will drop your AC costs dramatically as your house remains cooler during the summer. You will save both energy and money.
Install solar panels and reap the benefits easily. There are some things that should be further looked in to before doing this. A big consideration is how much sunlight does your home typically receive? If you live in a shady place, or a location with a cloudy climate, solar isn’t the choice for you.
You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. Before you do this, you should research just a few things first. The number one to think about is the amount of sun your home gets. If the area is shady, or you are in a region that doesn’t receive much sunshine, then you won’t be gaining much power.
Do you have a large plot of land? If so, you can rent a portion of it so wind turbines can be installed. This will provide you with free energy with only a small space investment.
Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. Your charger still uses energy while it’s plugged in, even if it isn’t charging anything.
Solar water heaters are an inexpensive and efficient way to heat your home’s water. If you live in a region that is not at risk for freezing, it is possible to install a system that pumps water into a solar heater, then pumps it into your house. However, consider that you may still need a traditional heater if you will be using a great deal of hot water, or if the sun does not come out for some time.
Whenever possible, you should use cold water to wash your clothes. Almost 90% of energy consumption during clothes being washed is a result of the hot water usage. 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. Also, don’t wash your clothes until you can completely fill the washer, as this saves energy over time.
Dry clothes outdoors instead of in the dryer during the summer. Your laundry will smell fantastic after a day in the sun. They’ll smell so much better than if you shoved them into a dryer! This will save you a ton on your utility bills, leaving you extra money to turn your air conditioning on instead.
Don’t run the dishwasher unless it is filled to capacity. The dishwasher uses the same energy when full that it uses when empty, but you’ll have to run it less often. When it is time to do a load of dishes, use the dishwasher’s energy-saving mode. This makes it so that the dishes air-dry rather than being dried by heat.
As you plan for a solar energy array, use winter time sunshine hours to calculate from. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, while leaving you safely ahead of your needs during the summer. An even better benefit is that you can sell your energy back to the grid in the sunniest of times!
When you install a solar energy system, place the batteries close to the cells. This makes sure power is not lost somewhere in the cable. It will also minimize the possibility of a cable shading out the cells and lowering their generation capability.
Stormed Doors
Take time to make sure to properly maintain the fridge. Refrigerators take up lots of energy, so making sure they’re in working order is always good to know. Clean the dust off of the heating coils on a regular basis. Check frequently to ensure that the door seals tightly.
Air flow is better controlled in home that has stormed doors and windows installed. 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.
If you are building a new home or are in the market for a new water heater, consider a tankless model. While heaters that are tankless still need electricity or gas, they will not heat more water than you need, which is what a water tank heater does. You can either get a tankless heater for your entire house or for a only one faucet.
Monitor how many watts you’re using. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. Using these devices with your appliances will tell you how much energy is used. This gives you a much better idea of the real costs associated with each appliance you own.
Wearing warmer clothes helps slash energy costs as you go green. Sweaters of varying thickness can offer more warmth, from two to four degrees depending on its weight. You do not have to dress lightly at home, so save money by putting on a sweater and turning down the heat!
You can heat your home using biofuels. These fuels are comprised of vegetable or animal fats, wood and oils. If you have a propane furnace, a professional can usually make changes that allow you to use this blend of fuels. This would change the conversation to around 20-99% biodiesel. Because this is a significant alteration, talk with a professional about the substitution before attempting to make any changes on your own.
Perhaps you are intimidated by making an large, green energy investment. Seeking the input of a professional, such as a heating/cooling specialist or plumber can educate you on options. They can provide an estimate of how much money inefficient appliances and systems are costing you, and they can tell you what upgrading or replacing such systems will cost.
As was stated in the above article, green energy is currently pretty popular. Green energy is good for the environment, and includes energy efficient technology and renewable energy. You can easily join in on the trend and use green energy around your home by remembering the information that was featured in this article.
Unless you’re freezing to death, don’t turn the heat all the way up. If you feel cold, put on a sweater or blanket instead. When heat is raised to a higher level you end up using a lot of energy you didn’t really need to use.
