Many people do not know where to start with going green. Does it seem too expensive and hard for you to consider? No worries! The tips in this article will prove that using green energy can be simple and inexpensive.
Shade your windows from excessive amounts of sunlight to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Shading the windows with curtains and blinds will keep out the sun in summer and keep the heat from escaping in winter. If you do these things, you will cut your use of air conditioning throughout the warm months, as your home will be a bit cooler. You’ll save money as well as energy.
Save on the use of electricity in your home, and become a better consumer of energy by unplugging your electronic devices and gadgets when they are not in use. Cell phone and mp3 chargers draw energy even if they aren’t charging anything.
Are you a farmer? If you own a farm, consider installing an energy turbine on your property, or renting land to a utility company for that purpose. The turbine will provide free energy to you and close neighbors, and won’t take up much space.
Your furnace filters should be cleaned monthly and replaced yearly. Also, put filters on vents that dispense warm air. This reduces debris and small toys from falling into the ducts, which will make them less efficient.
Do your research when it comes to the available energy sources where you live. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. Switching from electricity to gas, or from your city water supply to a well, may save you money.
Take time to maintain your fridge properly. Refrigerators constantly use energy to maintain cooler temperatures. If it is not properly cared for, it will use much more energy than it needs to. Clean heating coils regularly to get rid of dust. You also want to make sure the door seal is tight and clean.
Storm Doors
Storm doors and windows help control air flow into a home. These special storm doors and windows prevent cold air and drafts from entering the home. When homes have windows and doors that are stormed, 45 percent less energy is used, which can decrease electric bills.
Learn the difference between passive and active solar power. Activer solar power lets stored energy be used later, while passive power doesn’t require expensive storage cells. Installing an active solar system requires more money and work, with panels and an entire system. Passive power uses the sun for thermal energy in the home.
Get as many pieces of mail electronically as possible. This will help you use less paper and help the planet. You and the businesses you deal with can both save energy and money by going paperless. This benefits everyone in society along with your own business.
Solar Oven
Try using a solar oven for your baking needs. It’s fairly easy to make a solar oven using a discarded window box lined with foil to reflect the heat. You can reach an oven temperature of 300 degrees or more without using any other source of energy besides the sun. It only takes a few minutes to build a solar oven.
Look around for ways to “go green;” if you want to help conserve natural resources, there are many options available. Many of these options will not cost you money, but will instead save you money, like cleaning your furnace filter monthly and turning down your thermostat when you are leaving your home. Reduce water heater temperatures to 121 degress or less to save money. Every small change helps!
Write a reminder to remain on top of goals for energy efficiency, and check each bill against last year to see if improvements were made. When you’re more conscious of the energy you consume you can help to reduce costs in all areas of your life. If you form good habits of cutting your electric or water usage, turning off appliances and lights when not in use becomes automatic.
What is involved with changing your house to make it greener in its use of energy, and how can you benefit? You have the necessary information, now it’s time to put it to use in your life. Once you begin, you will be very pleased with the results and glad you chose to go greener!
