Green energy is becoming more and more popular today. Those that have embraced it expound the positives of being environmentally friendly, while being cost effective. Is this really true? Read this article for some great tips about using green energy daily.
If you’re designing any kind of outdoor lighting, you may want to think about installing solar-powered lamps. These lamps are very cheap, as they require no external power source, just the sun. This will end up saving you a lot of energy. It also means you don’t need hard wired outdoor lights.
Keep your windows shaded when trying to conserve energy. Do this by installing blinds or curtains. These actions will reduce the air conditioning usage during the hot summer months, and yet your home will still remain cooler. Not only will you save energy, but you will also save money.
You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. But, you must think about some things prior to doing this. Think about how much sun your house typically gets. If your home is mostly in the shade, or if you live in a location that receives little sun, your power gain may be minimal.
Are you lucky enough to own a farm? If you or someone you know does, you can rent a piece of your land to a company looking to put in a wind turbine. You could take advantage of the energy offered and the space requirements are minimal.
Energy Sources
Check what other energy sources are available in your neighborhood. Compare costs, and keep in mind that new legislation exists which will sometimes reward you for using renewable energy sources. You might find that you could save money by switching from an electric furnace to a natural gas one, for instance, or from using municipal water to your own well water.
If you’d like to cut down your hot water bill, look into using solar energy. Check into investing in a water system that is solar-powered. There are direct and indirect circulation systems available. Indirect is the best choice if you have pipes which often freeze in the winter.
When you consider solar heat for your home calculate potential hours of sunshine for energy generation during the winter months. When you do this, you understand how much you should be consuming on a daily basis during winter, and you won’t become surprised one day. And even more exciting, on some plans, you can receive money from utility companies if you use less energy than you generate.
Take time to maintain your fridge properly. Since the fridge consumes lots of energy, it’s key to maintain it in working order. Be sure that you’re regularly cleaning the dust that builds up near the heating coils. You should also be sure that the door has a clean and tight seal.
Passive Systems
Do some research and learn about passive and active solar powers. Active systems store the solar energy for use later, while passive systems just use the sun’s heat as energy. In order to use active power, you will need to install a few things, including solar cells, mechanical systems, and most importantly, solar panels. Passive systems simply use the sun’s energy to heat your house or water.
Create written reminders of your goals regarding energy efficiency, and compare your utility bills to those of the previous year to determine whether you are making positive steps. The more aware you are of using energy, the easier it is to reduce your energy use. For example, making a decision to reduce electricity usage will help you develop a habit to turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
When Christmas or other holidays roll around, try LED decorative lights instead of traditional lights to spruce up your home. A study conducted by the U.S. A study by the Department of Energy needs everyone to make this change. That’s enough electricity to power 200,000 houses for a whole year. You can save money on your electric bill.
If you are not in a room, do not keep the lights on. Just turning off lights helps to conserve quite a bit of energy. You will also save on your electric bill.
Energy Star
Search for an Energy Star logo when shopping for appliances in order to find the most energy-efficient ones. ENERGY STAR appliances are designed to follow guidelines from the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA. The products with this distinction are often the only eligible ones that can be used for tax rebates.
Take a few minutes to reflect about what you read. Are you convinced that green energy is the way forward? Use this article’s tips and see how good your life can be when it’s green. Start today, and you will discover the joys of contributing to the environment through using green energy.