Green energy offers many environmental benefits, but it also offers economic benefits to you the homeowner. If you’re interested in having a greener source of energy for your appliances at home, keep reading this article for useful tricks on the things you can do.
Solar powered outdoor lighting is a wonderful enhancement to your outdoor living areas. They are not only affordable, but they do not have to be hooked up to any power source, needing only good access to sunlight. This not only saves money. It also means you don’t need to wire your outdoor lights.
Wear natural fabrics instead of running your air conditioner during summer months. Natural materials like cotton repel moisture from your skin and allow it to stay cool. Light colored clothing can also help you to feel cooler.
When battery chargers and other electronics are not in use, unplug them. Your charger still uses energy while it’s plugged in, even if it isn’t charging anything.
Learn about energy sources within your community. Find out what the cost of using these utilities to run your home would be. You may find that switching to one or another may provide a reduction in energy use and cost.
On hot, summer days, hang your clothes outside. The sun will dry your clothing for free and the summer breeze will leave it smelling amazing. It is a fresher smell than you would get from the dryer. You will also have lower utility bills.
Run the dishwasher when it’s full instead of half-full in order to save energy and money. It’s sacrilege to turn it on with just one or two dishes inside. Your dishwasher can probably hold a lot more dishes than you think. Think carefully about where you place each dish for optimal storage in the washer.
Solar Power
Learn the difference between passive and active solar power. Passive solar power doesn’t need expensive cells in order to store power, although active is stored for later use. Active solar powers requires solar panels that need installations as well as mechanical systems and cells. Passive systems use the sun’s rays to store energy withing the walls of your home and are significantly cheaper.
Opt to receive as much correspondence as you can through email. In other words, choose paperless options anytime you can. You and the businesses you deal with can both save energy and money by going paperless. This also keeps the environment in better shape for everyone.
Carpooling doesn’t have to be just for work. Talk with other parents and try to arrange a carpool schedule so that you all take turns driving your kids to school. Also, create a joint grocery shopping day with friends or family.
While cooking, use a microwave if you can to save on energy. When cooking, stoves and ovens often use lots of energy, usually more than is needed. Take advantage of the microwave whenever you can to cut down on your overall energy consumption.
A good energy product is an on demand water heater. Regular hot water heaters keep hot water at a constant temperature, even if you aren’t using it. This type of point of use heater warms the water as it is required, and can result in significant cost savings.
A simple way to start going green is to talk to your power company. Utility companies provide some powerful tools online to measure and control your electricity usage. Make sure you investigate all programs and rebates offered if you buy energy-efficient items, from large appliances to light bulbs.
Turn your thermostat to 60 when you are away from home and also at bedtime. At 60 degrees, your home uses far less energy than keeping the temperature higher. This results in saving money and energy.
You can save on energy costs by checking the seals on your refrigerator and freezer. Refrigerators may use more energy if the seals are broken. This will, of course, cost you more. Test how well your seal works by placing a piece of paper in the door, shutting it, and seeing if the paper slides out easily.
Reduce your water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees, and you can go green while saving money on your utility bills. Doing this can reduce your electric bill by up to 10 percent while keeping temperatures at a safe rate.
Ice Makers
Those looking to reduce their energy consumption would be wise to make their own ice. Automated ice makers are an energy hog and can be inefficient. Ice makers also have more problems with seals leaking, which makes your refrigerator work harder to stay cool. Prevent these problems from getting you down by making your own ice.
A programmable thermostat is an effective green-energy device. These thermostats can regulate your home’s climate so you are not cooling or heating your home unnecessarily. The newer devices permit programs to be used so you can start and stop power at various times throughout the day.
Considering installing a dehumidifier in your home. Humidity makes the air feel warmer. Before starting up the air conditioner on muggy days, consider running the dehumidifier instead. You may find the dehumidifier will reduce ambient air temperature enough to keep you comfortable. You may find that you do not need the air conditioner as much as you originally thought.
Green Energy
By using green energy today you are saving money and the planet. It is easy to see that green energy methods are not overly difficult or costly. Take the information you have seen here and make a positive transition into a greener way of life.
