These days, the importance of protecting our environment is stressed everywhere we turn. Leading the way with smart green energy choices will help you save money and demonstrate your commitment to a healthier environment. The following paragraphs are going to make you aware of some techniques you can apply to let your home enjoy the benefits of green energy.
Shading your windows from direct sunlight can help you use less energy. Both curtains and blinds will help keep the heat from the sun out of your home during the summer months. By utilizing these ideas, you will drop your AC costs dramatically as your house remains cooler during the summer. You will save energy and money.
Solar Panels
Getting solar panels put in at home is simple and easy to attain energy from this source. However, before beginning this process, you need to realize a few things. The number one to think about is the amount of sun your home gets. If you home is shaded, the amount of energy collected from solar panels will be greatly reduced.
Are you living on a farm? If so, you can rent a portion of it so wind turbines can be installed. Your home and the surrounding residences will get some free power. Don’t worry, wind turbines don’t take up a lot of room.
It is important that if you take advantage of a dishwasher, that you only use it when you have a full load. It will use the same quantity of water or energy even if one dish is in it. Make sure you are using the energy saving settings on your dishwasher that will air-dry your dishes.
The power-storing batteries of your solar system should be installed close to the cells. Power can be lost over long cables so this will lessen the impact. It will also minimize the possibility of a cable shading out the cells and lowering their generation capability.
Whenever possible, keep the heat in your home turned down. In colder weather, you can make use of warm pajamas, sweat suits and slippers! If you turn the heat up to 75 degrees, you are using a ton of unnecessary energy.
Solar Oven
Consider using a solar oven to bake with. Use common household items to make a solar oven. Put a piece of an old window into a box and place foil inside the box to reflect the sun’s rays. Ovens like this can be assembled quickly, reach temperatures in excess of 300 degrees, and do not require any energy besides the sun.
Watch watt usage carefully. Get a watt monitor such as the Watt Minder or the Kill-A-Watt to find out which appliances use too much energy. When you plug an electrical appliance into the monitor, it displays how much energy it requires each hour, month, or year. This can let you see how much your devices really cost you.
Energy Star Rated
Replace old appliances with those labeled Energy Star. Any Energy Star rated appliance guarantees better energy efficiency than an older one without the rating. Refrigerators and freezers use 20% less energy and dishwashers use 40% less. Energy Star rated washing machines save at least 50% of the energy used by the older styles and also save a lot of water.
An easy way to use green energy is to install a tankless water heater. The old-fashioned water heaters run constantly, even running when not needed and that wastes energy. The on-demand water heaters will instantly heat the water when it is needed, and save you a bundle in energy cost as well.
Your electric company is probably eager to help you start saving energy today. Many utility companies have tools on their websites that will help you see how much energy you use, right down to the hour, as well as, ways to reduce your electric consumption and energy costs. Look into programs that include discounts or rebates for purchasing more efficient appliances, light bulbs, thermostats or other products.
Spending a little more on green appliances and electronics generally pays off over time. Green technologies are often a little more expensive than traditional items but the investment will pay off in the money that you save on decreased utilities. It will also make a big difference for the environment.
Turn your thermostat to 60 when you are away from home and also at bedtime. At 60 degrees, your home uses far less energy than keeping the temperature higher. The result will be minimized energy usage and maximized dollar saving.
The addition of solar panels on your home’s roof is one of the easiest ways to take a step towards green energy. Although the upfront costs for solar panels are significant, they will pay for themselves in just a few years. Once the panels are installed in your home, the energy they provide is free. You can sell this energy to electric companies if you desire.
As you can see, there are many ways to lessen your carbon footprint by making practical changes in the energy efficiency of your home. It is worth using green energy for the savings alone.