There are many individuals out there wanting to live a green lifestyle, but really do not know how to start. The good news is that if you want to go green, you can choose from many alternative energy sources to help you and the environment. The following article offers you great information on how you can incorporate green energy into your life now.
If you are considering purchasing outdoor lighting look into solar lamps. These lamps aren’t very expensive and can save you on power bills because they’re powered by the sun. This, of course, will save you a lot of money. You will not have to hook up the lights to an electrical source.
Government grants are available to help consumers invest in renewable energies. Check out your local government so that you can see what type of programs are available in your area. It may be possible for you to get wind or solar installation for free, or you may be able to get a deductions on your taxes.
Whenever possible, use cold water to wash your clothing. The majority of energy use from washing clothes is in the heating of the water. If your laundry detergent is a high quality brand, the use of cold water won’t affect the cleanliness of your clothing. Additionally, it is more energy-efficient if you are washing full loads instead of small ones.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, a technician can give you information about changing over to biodiesel. Depending on your system, you may be able to switch to biodiesel without having to make any modifications to your system. Biodiesel is cleaner to burn than petroleum, making it more efficient to use in the wintertime.
A solar energy array can be the cheapest way to getting your hot water. Check into investing in a water system that is solar-powered. It is possible to chose between direct and indirect circulation systems. Indirect is the best choice if you have pipes which often freeze in the winter.
If you are planning a solar system for your home, be sure to calculate your potential energy production using the amount of sun to expect in the cloudiest month. This will ensure that you are not caught short during winter, and you have excess during the summer. If you are on a net usage plan, during the summer, you’ll receive money back from the utility company for the energy you generate!
Keep your refrigerator properly maintained. 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. Don’t forget to be certain to keep the seal surrounding the door tight and clean.
Electric heaters should only be used when necessary in order to be more green. Wear several layers of warm clothes instead, and heat main rooms with a pellet stove or fireplace. It is better to sleep in cooler air, it helps you breathe, and keeps your airways moist.
Pay careful attention to rebates that may help you save money on renewable energy. In many cases, the electric company will pay for part of the upgrades. You may also get state and federal tax deductions for making your home more energy efficient. Rebates and tax credits can make it a lot cheaper to upgrade your home, to make it more energy efficient.
Explore the possibility of using a solar-powered oven for some of your baking needs. These can even be made yourself using items such as a box, a discarded window, and some tin foil. Solar ovens can get hotter than 300 degrees, and doesn’t use any energy source besides the sun, so you are reducing your carbon footprint and saving money.
Keep an eye on the wattage you are using. There are many items on the market you can buy to track your energy use, such as the Kill-a-Watt. Plug these gadgets into an appliance to find out how much energy is used in an hour, a month or a year. You can get a real idea of what your appliance is costing you and the environment.
If you are someone who is seeking out ways to live green so you can help save the planet’s energy, there’s a lot you can do. Perhaps you don’t have money to spend on making your home more green, but it is possible to start by maintaining smaller things, like clean filters and regulated temperatures. Lowering the temperature on your water heater to 120 can also help reduce costs. No change is too small.
Energy Star
Use Energy Star rated appliances instead of your old appliances. If you buy an Energy Star-rated appliance, it is guaranteed to use far less energy than the one it replaced. The rating promises refrigerators and freezers will use 20 percent less energy, 40 percent less for dishwashers and 50 percent less energy for washing machines.
One of the key topics facing our government is finding alternative options for our energy sources as we are forced to turn away from oil. Learning how to properly take advantage of renewable energy is an important step to decreasing our dependence on oil. Armed with the right information, turning “green” is much easier than you think. Remember this advice, and go green today!
