Not only will going green help you save money, it will benefit the world around you. It only takes a few changes to vastly improve your home’s energy efficiency, and cut that electric bill down to size! This article provides useful tips on home-energy conservation.
Use solar-powered lamps for outdoor lighting. The solar lamps are relatively inexpensive and will not need any additional power other than direct sunlight. This not only saves energy. It also means you do not to have string up those outdoor lights.
Keeping your windows shaded to keep sunlight out of the house will greatly conserve energy. Use curtains or blinds as an alternative. Both of these adjustments can help you cut back on using the air conditioner, since your house will remain cooler. The result is a significant energy savings and money in your pocket!
Turn off appliances if you are not using them. When you are ready to leave a room, go around and turn off appliances such as computers, televisions, and most importantly, the overhead light. Try using a power strip so you can turn off all of your electronics at once, instead of letting power be wasted in standby mode.
If you are thinking of installing a solar power system in your home, you need to calculate the amount of power the system can produce using winter sunshine hours. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, while leaving you safely ahead of your needs 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.
Replace your water heater and get a 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. There are tankless heaters designed to not only provide one area with hot water, but also to heat entire houses.
There are products available for purchase that can help you reduce your energy costs. One of the most popular products to increase the energy efficiency of your home are double-pane windows that have received a high energy star rating. These products can assist you in reducing cooling and heating costs.
If you can afford it, invest in a laptop rather than using a desktop as they tend to use more energy. Laptops use only about one quarter of the power consumption of a full desktop, and is ideal for those that use their computer for surfing the Internet or word processing. The laptop has the added benefit of being portable, so you can use it anywhere!
Take advantage of government rebates on renewable energy installations. Local utility companies may even offer rebates or other assistance with upgrades. Other times, you may be eligible for credits or tax deductions from the federal or state government. These credits and rebates reduce the price you will pay to install green tech products at home.
Opt for emails over paper whenever possible; get on no-mail lists for catalogs and junk mail. In other words, go paperless as much as possible. This helps businesses to save energy as well as consumers. This protects the environment, too.
Watch how many watts you use. There are gadgets out there that will help show you what in your house is using the most energy. Look for brands like Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt. If you connect an appliance to either of these devices, it can calculate the energy savings you could realize over a given period of time if you switched to green power, from an hour to a year. This is a good way to find out how much your appliances are really costing you.
Use your microwave whenever you can reasonably use it. Cooking food using the stove or the oven consumes a large amount of power. So when you can “nuke” your food, do so to cut down on energy usage.
Although it is probably common sense, usually, most people forget to shut off lights and electronics when not using them. If a person put this practice into action, he or she would save a huge amount on the electric bill. Resolve to turn off lights and equipment when you are not using them.
Energy Star
You should find an Energy Star logo or seal right on the product, so be sure to look for it. ENERGY STAR appliances must meet all the guidelines which have been established by the U.S. Department of Energy in addition to the Environmental Protection Agency. You may have to purchase these appliances to get tax rebates.
As you should now see, updating your home with green technology isn’t necessarily going to break the bank. A few minor changes can help you save a lot of money on your bills. Keep these tips in mind and forward them to a friend, so everyone can someday see the environment improve.
