Saving power, heat or water is made possible thanks to alternative sources of energy. With a few small changes, and maybe some big ones, you can reduce your carbon footprint and save some money at the same time. For some simple ideas, continue reading.
When drawing up the landscaping plans for a garden path or patio, incorporate solar-powered lamps. These lamps aren’t costly and do not need additional power sources other than direct sun exposure. This will save a lot of energy. It means that there is no need to run wires outside to hook up lights.
Saving energy and money is as simple as closing your curtains. Closing your blinds and curtains will keep out the sun in summer and keep heat from escaping in winter. Doing these things will let you use less air conditioning in the summer. You will save energy and money.
Wear lightweight, natural fabric during the summer instead of running your air conditioner. Cotton and other natural fabrics actually remove moisture from the skin, resulting in a cooler feel. Wear lighter colored clothes, as darker colors tend to make you feel hotter, which results in your putting on the AC.
Getting solar panels put in at home is simple and easy to attain energy from this source. Before you do this though, you need to think about a few things first. One thing to factor into your considerations is the amount of sun your house actually gets over the year. You are not going to get much solar power if your home has too much shade.
Make your home more energy efficient by unplugging your unused electronic devices. 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.
Do you or your family 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. Everyone surrounding the area where these turbines are installed are sure to benefit, and the installation doesn’t take up that much space.
Do your laundry using cold water, if you can. If you use warm or hot water in your washing machine, almost 90% of your energy use goes towards heating the water. As long as the washing detergent you use is reliable, using cold water instead of hot water will wash your clothes just as well. Furthermore, remember to always wash a full load, as this is more energy efficient.
Solar Energy
A solar energy array can be the cheapest way to getting your hot water. You can purchase a hot-water system that is run by solar energy. It is possible to chose between direct and indirect circulation systems. For colder regions,indirect is a better option.
When thinking about home solar systems, think about how much energy will be produced during winter. This will guarantee that you will have energy no matter what the weather brings, and it will result in a surplus during the summer. 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.
Keep your refrigerator well maintained. Keep your refrigerator in tip-top shape, and running at maximum efficiency, with minimal effort. Make sure you clean out any dust from around heating coils. Don’t forget to be certain to keep the seal surrounding the door tight and clean.
Storm Windows
Air flow is controlled best in homes with storm windows and doors. Storm windows are good at cutting down on the cool air that tries to get in. Energy efficiency can be increased up to 45% in a home with storm windows and doors.
Save energy by buying products that conserve energy. Some green products such as eco-friendly doors, windows, and double-glazed windows can help you save energy and run the home efficiently. This type of product is perfect for reducing AC costs.
Think of using a laptop computer instead of a desktop model to save on your electricity usage. This could possibly reduce your electrical use by 75 percent, especially if the Internet is used frequently or there is heavy use of word processing software. Plus you can take your laptop anywhere.
Keep track of how many watts you’re using. Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt are both tools that help to monitor energy consumption. All you have to do is plug the appliance directly into the device so that it can calculate how much energy is being used per hour, month, or year. This gives you a much better idea of the real costs associated with each appliance you own.
Take the ideas you get from this guide and look for ways to incorporate these tips into your lifestyle. As you protect the environment more, your monthly energy bills will decrease. Even small changes can set you on a path toward a greener lifestyle.
