Going green is gaining in popularity for great reasons. Green energy can save you money and care for the environment in countless ways as well. This article will illustrate simple and effective ways to employ green energy in your home.
Solar Panels
Have solar panels installed on your home for an easy, renewable way to power some or all of your home’s appliances. It is important, however, that you do your homework before making the leap. The major thing you have to consider before going ahead with solar panels is the amount of sunlight your home gets over the course of a day. If you’re in a shady area, or a place that doesn’t have many sunny days, you won’t be able to gain as much power.
Clothes should always be washed in cold water, if possible. Almost all of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water. Good detergents wash clothes even in cold water. Be sure to always do a full load of clothes when you wash.
Do your research when it comes to the available energy sources where you live. Be sure to look at the legislation and incentives available for using green utilities. You might be able to save money by switching to well water or natural gas heat.
Solar hot water heaters are an excellent way to have lower costs on your hot water energy use. Simply put, all you need is a hot water system that uses solar energy. It is possible to chose between direct and indirect circulation systems. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.
Make your home more energy efficient by purchasing energy saving products to help you save energy. Certain green products, like double glazed windows, eco-friendly doors and windows really help reduce the amount of energy needed to run your home efficiently. The use of these types of technologies can drastically reduce both your cooling and heating costs.
Desktop computers require a lot of energy, so why not opt for a laptop? It can mean a savings of up to seventy-five percent on the electricity if you are a frequent Internet user or if you use word-processing software. The laptop has the added benefit of being portable, so you can use it anywhere!
Watch how many watts you use. Choose an energy monitor like the Kill-A-Watt or the Watt Minder to help you determine which devices and appliances consume the most energy. You can tell how much energy it uses by plugging the appliance into it. You can get a real idea of what your appliance is costing you and the environment.
Write reminders for energy-efficient goals and check your utility bills. Simply by being aware of your energy costs will help you be more efficient in your energy output. For instance, if you make an effort to lower your electricity or water usage, it’s more likely that you will also try to use appliances and lights less often.
Energy Star Rating
Get appliances that have an Energy Star rating. To receive an Energy Star rating from the government, appliances must meet minimum efficiency standards, unlike the non-rated appliances you may currently own. You will find that Energy Star rated refrigerators use about 20% less energy, and clothes washing machines use about 50% less.
Use your microwave whenever you can reasonably use it. Any time you cook something on the stove or in the oven it tends to use up a ton of energy. By using the microwave, you are cutting down the amount of energy you use a great deal.
One of the oldest tips in the book is to make sure that you turn off all electronics and lights when you leave any room to save energy. You might be amazed at the amount of energy savings you can gain over time, simply by making it a point to turn off lights. An additional advantage is lower electric bills.
Green Energy
As you can see, there are many ways to use green energy in your home. Using green energy is a great benefit to you in cost savings, and will give you positive feelings about your impact on the environment. Implement these tips in your own home for a greener and energy efficient use of today’s technology.
