We have come to realize how important it is to take better care of our environment. Every time you use green energy around your house, you contribute to a healthier environment and also save yourself some money. In this article, you will find a few ways to use green energy in your own home.
Consider outdoor lighting, such as garden or patio lighting, that is solar-powered. This type of lamp is cost-effective and needs no power other than sunlight. This will end up saving you a lot of energy. It also means that you avoid having to go outside and wire up outdoor lights.
You can conserve energy by shading your windows from sunlight. Installing blinds and curtains will also help. These actions will reduce the air conditioning usage during the hot summer months, and yet your home will still remain cooler. The result is a significant energy savings and money in your pocket!
Become a better energy consumer, and save electricity in your home by unplugging chargers for your electronic devices when you are not using them. Chargers for devices like phones, music players, computers and others use small amounts of power any time they are in an outlet, even if you aren’t charging anything.
Clean your furnace filters regularly and replace them at least one time a year. Filters can also be installed in every warm-air register. These filters keep debris or toys from entering the duct-work, which could reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.
Know the available energy options in your community. Find out what the cost would be to switch, how much it would cost to maintain, and whether your government has any legislation regarding its use. You might find savings by switching from electric to natural gas for heating, or to well water from city water.
If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, refrain from doing a load until the dishwasher is completely full of dishes. Your dishwasher consumes the same energy and water, even if it is half full. Make use of the air drying, energy-saving option on your washer.
A solar energy array can be the cheapest way to getting your hot water. Upgrade your hot water system to one that’s solar-powered. Research the benefits of an indirect versus direct circulation system. You’re better off with an indirect system if you are worried about pipes freezing during the winter.
Make use of a solar oven for baking needs. These can be made with readily available items like an old window, box, and piece of foil for reflection. They require only sunlight to reach a temperature of more than 300 degrees, and they only take a few minutes to construct.
As you can see, there are many ways to lessen your carbon footprint by making practical changes in the energy efficiency of your home. Watching the savings mount can alter many behaviors pretty fast.
