Using green energy will benefit both your home and the environment. You can make some small changes around the house which make it much more energy efficient, and you can cut electricity costs too! This article provides useful tips on home-energy conservation.
Simply lessening the amount of daily energy consumption can save lots of energy. Unplug your electrical appliances from outlets when not in use. Also, remember to turn off lights when they are not needed. This simple tip can save you a lot of money.
When creating an outdoor light set up for a garden path or patio, think of solar powered lamps as an option. These lamps are inexpensive and do not require any kind of power source other than exposure to the sun. This saves a lot of energy! It also means you do not to have string up those outdoor lights.
The government has set up several incentive programs to help consumers switch to renewable energy sources. If you are interested in getting free money to improve your home you should contact your local government for more information. You may be eligible for free wind or solar installation, or at the very least be allowed to deduct your costs when you do your taxes.
Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. Chargers for your electronics, such as an iPod or cell phone, are always using electricity, even when they’re not in use, so unplug them when you can.
Use window treatments to shade the inside of your home when you aren’t home. They will help to keep the temperature and the energy consumption of the house down when the house is vacant. South-facing windows get maximum sun. Use coverings on each of your home’s windows, such as roman shades, dark curtains, or roller shades.
Put the solar energy system’s batteries close to its cells during installation. This avoids power loss in the cable. It can also lessen the probability of cable shading, which reduces power-generation capabilities.
Keep your refrigerator well maintained. A refrigerator uses lots of energy so should be kept in good working condition. Clean the dust off of the heating coils on a regular basis. Make sure the door seal is clean and also tight.
Trade out your older, tank-style water heater for a tankless model that is more green. Although tankless heaters require electricity or gas to heat water, they only do this on the amount you need as opposed to storing it in a large tank that is kept hot all the time. You can either get a tankless heater for your entire house or for a only one faucet.
If you are not sure about making improvements to your home, hire professionals that can look over your systems and offer you ideas of what you can do to make your home more green. They can let you know how much money inefficient appliances are costing you, and they can also provide you with an idea of the amount of money you would have to spend to make upgrades to your systems.
Try using LED lights as opposed to conventional ones for the next holiday season. Over two billion kilowatt power hours can be saved! The U.S. would be able to save Two billion kilo watt hours of energy if everyone did this change. That’s enough electricity to power 200,000 houses for a whole year. Saving money on your electric bill is the least that can happen.
Save money and fuel by carpooling for errands as well as work and school. Carpooling with other neighborhood parents to transport children back and forth to school not only saves you time, it sames you money. Join with friends and family to do grocery shopping, visit the mall or even go to the movies.
If you are not in a room, do not keep the lights on. Turning off the lights will save a surprising amount of energy. Your power bills will also be significantly less.
When purchasing anything made from wood, look for bamboo options. Bamboo is a green, grass product, but it is much stronger than most of the commercial wood types. Since bamboo grows quite fast it is one of the best renewable choices you can make. You can find a variety of bamboo products, from floors to furniture to cutting boards for the kitchen. This will reduce energy consumption for the production and recycling of manufacturing items.
If it’s feasible, replace old, leaky windows with energy-efficient models. Windows with a better seal will reduce your energy bills, keep road noise out of your house, and limit window condensation.
Reducing your thermostat to 60 degrees when the house is vacant will save you more energy than you may think. At this temperature your home uses very little energy. The resulting effect is energy usage cuts and money saved.
You should always be using your ceiling fans, even in the winter. Putting them clockwise can get rid of the warm air that flows toward your ceiling, which decreases the amount of heating you need. Although these fans use a little bit of electricity, you’ll save a ton because you won’t have to use your furnace as much.
Ice Makers
If you are trying to limit your energy use, you should make your own ice. Automated ice makers are an energy hog and can be inefficient. Ice makers generally increase the temperature in your freezer if they develop a leaky seal. Stay away from these types of problems by simply making ice yourself.
As you can now see, you do not have to spend a lot of money to go green. Often, making a few changes to your home can actually save money in electricity costs. 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.
