Going green is beneficial for the private home, while benefiting the environment at large too. Simple modifications at home will increase your energy efficiency and save you money on your utility bills. Read the following tips to learn how you can use less energy at home.
Use solar-powered lamps for outdoor lighting. These lamps require now power source, except the sun, and are generally inexpensive. This does more than just save energy. You also don’t need to hang lights or wires outdoors.
When battery chargers and other electronics are not in use, unplug them. Chargers used for cell phones, laptops, mp3 players and other electronic devices use power when they’re plugged in, even if they aren’t charging your device.
Try to use cold water for washing clothes. Almost 90 percent of the consumed energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating up the water. Good detergents wash clothes even in cold water. In addition, remember to wash full loads to maximize energy efficiency.
When you consider solar heat for your home calculate potential hours of sunshine for energy generation during the winter months. This prevents unpleasant surprises in the winter, and it saves money during the summer. If your electric company bills on net usage, you will actually make money because yu generate more power than you consume.
If you are apprehensive about what green changes to make to your home, there are many green energy consultants available today. These professionals can point out inefficient appliances and systems, and they can also help you determine how much it might cost to upgrade them.
Watch your watt usage. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. If you connect an appliance to either of these devices, it can calculate the energy savings you could realize over a given period of time if you switched to green power, from an hour to a year. This is a good way to find out how much your appliances are really costing you.
One way to help reduce energy consumption is to develop an energy savings plan. You should compare your goals with your utility bills to ensure you are staying on track. You can reduce your energy use just by being aware of what you are spending. For instance, if you actively attempted to use less water or power, you going to make the effort to turn off lights and appliances when you leave the room.
You can use bio-fuels to heat your house. These fuels use fats, wood or oil to create energy. Propane furnaces can be changed to use multiple fuels. This is between 20 to 99% biodiesel. Be sure you discuss any new fuel use in your home with a pro before starting.
Carpooling doesn’t have to be just for work. Ask other parents in the neighborhood if they are interested in carpooling for their children and trade days with them. Join with friends and family to do grocery shopping, visit the mall or even go to the movies.
A good green energy technology tip is to use a water heater that is on-demand. Traditional water heaters run constantly, heating the water when it’s completely unnecessary. These heaters only heat water when necessary, which will increase your energy savings.
Energy Star Logo
An easy way to identify energy efficient appliances and products is to look for the ENERGY STAR logo. If your appliance has an ENERGY STAR logo, then it falls within the guidelines set by both the U.S. Department of Energy plus those of the Environmental Protection Agency. You may have to purchase these appliances to get tax rebates.
Try setting your heat at 61 degrees or less when you aren’t home, or when you have retired for the night. At 60 degrees you use the lowest amount of energy you could possibly use. You can save money on your utility bills by reducing your energy consumption in this way.
One way to make your home use less energy is to weatherize it. You can reduce the energy needs of your home with energy efficient windows, heating and cooling systems, and by adding insulation and sealing ducts. Not only that, you will also have a much lower energy bill!
As you should now see, updating your home with green technology isn’t necessarily going to break the bank. A few simple changes can be all it takes to save money on your utility bills. If you utilize these tips in the article, you will be helping to save the environment for future generations. Pass the tips onto your friends as well.