Making a few simple energy cutbacks around your home is actually easier than you may think. After making some small, and larger, changes to your home, you will drop your environmental impact and save money. The article that follows will help you get started.
Making small adjustments to the way you use energy every day can ultimately reduce your consumption. For example, when an appliance is not in use unplug it. Always turn off the television and lights when you are not using them. This can save you money and it’s simple.
Consider installing solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. Solar lamps are relatively inexpensive and can save you a great deal on wiring and electricity expenses. This will save significant energy. Another added convenience is that they do not require any wiring for you to enjoy outside lighting.
Are you a farm owner? If you have one, an energy company may be interested in renting a portion of the property to install a wind turbine. You and the neighbors can relish in the free energy and installation, if it doesn’t require too much space.
Do things like wash your clothes inside some cold water, if you can. Having heated water in your washer can use up to nine-tenths of the energy required to run a washing machine. If your detergent is of good quality, you should have no problems using cold water. In addition, remember to wash full loads to maximize energy efficiency.
Don’t waste money or energy by running a half-full load of dishes. Don’t run it with just a few dishes. Dishwashers can usually hold many dishes. Line up the same types of dishes, such as plates and cups so you are filling it completely.
Using the sun to heat your water is very cost effective. Get a solar hot-water system. There are direct circulation systems as well as indirect systems. If frozen pipes are a concern where you live, the indirect option is probably better.
Calculate potential energy generation during the planning of buying home solar systems. This can prevent surprises in the winter, so you ensure your home has proper energy inventory. If you’re using a type of net usage plan, you’ll receive money back during the summer from your utility company for energy you’re generating!
If you are building a new home or are in the market for a new water heater, consider a tankless model. These heaters only heat water when you need it rather than heating the tank constantly. This saves you on your gas or electricity costs. There are models available that provide on-demand hot water for a whole house or just one faucet.
Watch how many watts you use. Use gadgets like the Watt Minder and the Kill-A-Watt so that you can discover what uses the most energy. Plug your appliance or gadget into the watt-checking device, and it will tell you how much the unit consumes in energy in one hour, month or year. This can show what your appliance is costing you.
If you’re one of many who wants to live an environmentally friendly life, there’s plenty you can do. Even though you may not have too much money, there are little things you can do, such as lowering your heat to 60 when you aren’t home and cleaning your furnace filters monthly. Setting your water heater’s temperature to a maximum 120 degrees will also save money. Every little bit helps!
Think about the ideas provided in this article, and try to come up with a way to implement them in your home. You will see a significant decrease in your energy bills while benefiting and helping the environment. Work at it bit by bit and before you know it your home will be as green as the greenest!
