There are many individuals out there wanting to live a green lifestyle, but really do not know how to start. Several solutions exist to use green energy and protect the environment. Keep reading to find out how you can do your part and make the right choices.
Solar powered outdoor lighting is a wonderful enhancement to your outdoor living areas. Not only are they a reasonable purchase price, but they do not require electricity to run. This saves a lot of energy! It also means you don’t need to wire your outdoor lights.
Reduce the price of heating water in pools, hot tubs and inside your home by using solar-powered heating systems. Solar water heaters use solar energy in an efficient way to heat your water. By doing certain upgrades to your home, you can often earn extra incentives and even cut backs on your energy bill.
When doing laundry, try to use cold water. Nearly 90% of the energy that is consumed when you wash your clothes is taken up heating the water. If you are using good quality washing detergent, cold water is effective. Don’t forget to wait until you have a full load of laundry to wash; that is the energy efficient way.
Heating your water with the power of the sun can be very efficient. If you live in a sunny climate, you can use a solar water heater year-round. If you live in a climate that faces cold winters, also install a traditional heater for your water.
Think about how much sun your home gets during winter months to help you figure out how much solar energy you need to power your home. This will guarantee you energy no matter the weather, and it will have you entering the summer safely without energy concerns as well. You may even get rebates from your utility company in summer months if you sign up for net usage and use solar panels.
Storm Doors
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. Storm’s windows and doors cut down on the cold air that drafts can let in. If you use storm doors or windows, you can save at least 45 percent on your electricity bills.
Replace your water heater and get a tankless model. Even though you still need electricity or gas in order to heat water with these tanks, they use only the water you need instead of always keeping your whole tank heated. You can purchase tankless heaters that supply the whole house, or ones that supply just one faucet.
Putting on a few more layers can help you save money in the winter. Even just a lightweight sweater keeps you two degrees warmer, and a heavyweight sweater will keep you four degrees warmer. So, wear a sweater to save some money.
Active Power
Learn the difference between passive and active solar power. Passive solar power doesn’t require the costly power-storage cells that active power does. Active power requires the installation of solar panels, mechanical systems, and cells. Passive is just used via the sun for storing the thermal energy in the walls of your home to heat it.
Use energy saving products throughout your home to increase efficiency. Some green products such as eco-friendly doors, windows, and double-glazed windows can help you save energy and run the home efficiently. These products will help you reduce the costs of heating and cooling.
Be aware of federal and state rebates for updating your home with renewable energy. Ask your utility company if they offer rebates for green energy upgrades. You may also get state and federal tax deductions for making your home more energy efficient. These credits and rebates reduce the price you will pay to install green tech products at home.
Closely monitor how many watts you are using. Try using gadgets like the Kill-A-Watt and the Watt Minder to see what in your home uses too much energy. By plugging any device into this gadget, it will tell you how much energy it consumes. This way, you will know how much that appliance costs you, and you can adjust your usage or settings accordingly.
Use a microwave as often as you can to save energy at home. Whenever you use your stove or oven, you use a significant amount of energy. If you can cook things in the microwave instead, do it! This will help save a lot of energy.
Again, going green is a political hotspot right now, especially because there is no longer any such thing as a cheap source of oil. With relevant advice, you will find that you can easily make your life more green. Use this article’s advice, and live a green life now!
