Going green is a good thing to do for you, your family and your community. Changing just a few things in the way your home runs can make it use energy more efficiently and cut your monthly electric bill. Read through this article for great tips on how you can use green energy technology in your own home.
Clean filters or replace them to ensure your furnace is appropriating at prime efficiency. Filters can also be installed in every warm-air register. This stops debris from blocking heating ducts.
Whenever possible, you should use cold water to wash your clothes. Hot water takes up 90% of energy used to wash clothing. If your detergent is of good quality, you should have no problems using cold water. Be sure to always do a full load of clothes when you wash.
Keep covers on your windows when not in your home. This keeps your home cooler naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner and saving energy. Pay particular attention to covering the windows on the south side of your house. They typically admit the most sun. Dark curtains, roller or roman shades can cover windows well.
When you are not using something, turn it off. Upon leaving a room, turn off such things as the lights, computer, television or entertainment center. 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.
Don’t use your electric heater when you can avoid it. Wear several layers of warm clothes instead, and heat main rooms with a pellet stove or fireplace. You will breathe better during your sleep if the air is cool.
Get as many pieces of mail electronically as possible. Don’t use paper whenever you can afford to do so. You will save valuable energy and help the businesses you use to save also. That helps the environment for everybody.
If you would like to save the environment, remember that it can be done in small steps as well as big ones. Simply cleaning filters in the furnace and setting temperatures lower can help! Keep the water heater temperature around 120 degrees and save energy costs. Every little thing you do helps!
Use your microwave whenever you can reasonably use it. The stove uses a good bit of energy. Take advantage of the microwave when you can.
If you are not in a room, do not keep the lights on. If you establish a habit of extinguishing your lights, you will be amazed at the amount of energy you can save in the long run. You not only save a lot of energy but you save money, as well.
Many people typically don’t turn off lights, machines and appliances that they are not using. What they don’t understand is that doing so would save them a great deal on their utility bills. Think before you act, and turn things off when not using them.
Wood Items
Look into bamboo products when purchasing wood items. Bamboo is technically grass and is a “green product”, but it is often much stronger than other available woods. This fast-growing product is used in a wide variety of wood items. Everything from floors to cutting boards can be made with bamboo. This saves energy, as bamboo is easy to produce and can be recycled.
Investing more money up front in green energy appliances will pay off by saving you money over time. You usually have to pay a bit more upfront for green technologies, but you will save far more than the difference over time with reduced energy costs. It also pays off in the future for the environment.
Use automatic motion or sound sensors on the lights in high-traffic rooms. These sensors turn off automatically when people aren’t in the room, which saves you money. Make sure outdoor lighting, such as above your garage, in also included.
Set your home’s thermostat to 60 degrees if you are sleeping or leaving the house for several hours at a time. If you heat is set at 60, you are not using much energy. As stated, lowering your thermostat will minimize the energy needed to heat your home.
Making use of solar energy will take your current green home plans to the next level. Even though a significant cost is involved when you install solar panels, your investment cost will be recouped within several years. Once the panels are in, solar power is free; you might even be able to sell power to local utility companies.
Switching to green energy options need not be difficult or expensive. Small changes in your own home can make a big difference. Implement a few of these tips and pass the information on as well. You will be helping your family, your neighbors and the environment as a whole.
