Converting to a green home does not have to be a difficult or expensive venture. If you make a few simple changes, you can cut utility costs and improve the environment at the same time. Read this article for learning how to effectively use green energy, while helping the environment in the long run.
Try wearing natural fabrics in the summer as opposed to using the air conditioner. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw moisture naturally from the skin, making it cooler. Wearing lighter colors will also help, because they tend to reflect light.
Do you currently own a farm? If you do, then you probably own property. This might be an opportunity to rent a portion of that property to a company that will build a wind turbine on it. This will provide you with free energy with only a small space investment.
Whenever possible, you should use cold water to wash your clothes. Having heated water in your washer can use up to nine-tenths of the energy required to run a washing machine. As long as the washing detergent you use is reliable, using cold water instead of hot water will wash your clothes just as well. Only wash when you have a full load of clothes to put in the washer.
When weather is good, skip the energy-hogging dryer and dry your clothes on an outdoor clothesline. The sun can dry clothes quickly without using any power, with the added benefit of making your clothes smell extra-fresh. They will smell better than anything coming out of a dryer. As well, you save quite a bit on monthly utility costs.
A good way to save money is to only turn on your dishwasher when you have a full load ready to go. Don’t run it with only two or three dishes inside. Once you learn how to properly fill a dishwasher, you will be amazed at the number of dishes that can be washed in one load. Line up the same types of dishes, such as plates and cups so you are filling it completely.
When determining the economical impact of a PV solar system, be sure to run a calculation using the hours of winter sunlight. This will guarantee you energy no matter the weather, and it will have you entering the summer safely without energy concerns as well. Also, if you make use of the net usage plan from your electric company, you will get returns from your utility company for generating energy during summer.
Be sure you maintain your refrigerator properly. Since the fridge consumes lots of energy, it’s key to maintain it in working order. Vacuum the coils frequently to remove the dust that can build up and reduce efficiency. Don’t forget to be certain to keep the seal surrounding the door tight and clean.
Switch over to getting information through email. Going paperless can help the environment in many ways. You will save valuable energy and help the businesses you use to save also. In addition, it will help protect the environment for all.
Solar Oven
Make use of a solar oven for baking needs. Use common household items to make a solar oven. Put a piece of an old window into a box and place foil inside the box to reflect the sun’s rays. Ovens like this can be assembled quickly, reach temperatures in excess of 300 degrees, and do not require any energy besides the sun.
Check and manage your watt usage. Try using gadgets like the Kill-A-Watt and the Watt Minder to see what in your home uses too much energy. When you plug an electrical appliance into the monitor, it displays how much energy it requires each hour, month, or year. It gives concrete information about how much energy the appliance is wasting.
If you are purchasing new appliances, try to aim for Energy Star rated ones. The Energy Star rating guarantees that the appliance you are using has been built to use much less energy than its non-rated predecessor. For your refrigerator/freezer, Energy star appliances promise to cut energy usage by 20%, and you will see 40% and 50% energy usage, respectively, in Energy Star dishwashers and washing machines.
Get a greener home by making more responsible light usage a priority. In the brighter months, don’t turn lights on until past a certain time. Use dimmers to cut down on light use, and use sensors and timers to make sure that lights aren’t kept on if no one is inside the room.
Green Energy
Even though some people don’t believe global energy is anything to worry about, everyone can benefit from the use of green energy in their home. Green energy is cheap to use and easy to implement with some small, daily changes.
