Using green energy is very popular and there are great reasons for this. You can save so much money on energy costs by implementing green energy techniques into your household, and the environment will benefit greatly, as well. This article will let you find out some tips about using green energy that you can immediately make use of.
Wear natural fabrics during the summer in order to avoid wasting energy on air conditioning. Natural fibers like cotton can absorb moisture from your skin, helping you feel cooler. If you wear lighter colors, you will also feel cooler than if you wore black or another dark color.
Solar Energy
It is fairly simple to have solar panels installed to tap into solar energy to use in your home. But, you must think about some things prior to doing this. Think about how much sun your house typically gets. You can’t take as much advantage of solar energy if your house gets a lot of shade rather than sun.
Do you happen to own some farmland? 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. You and the neighbors can benefit from this free installation and energy which won’t take up much space.
Wash clothes with cold water, as much as you can. Almost 90 percent of energy consumed by washing machines is used when heating the water. As long as your detergent is good, cold water washing can be just as effective as warm water. It is also better to clean a full load, not smaller loads.
If you have a dishwasher make sure you only run it when it is full. It makes use of a fixed amount of energy no matter the amount of dishes it has. Make sure you are using the energy saving settings on your dishwasher that will air-dry your dishes.
Using the sun to heat your water is very cost effective. Get a solar hot-water system. You may pick between a direct or indirect circulation system. The indirect system is a a great thing to have and you do not have to think about having frozen pipes during the winter.
If you want to live greener and have a greener home, avoid running electric heaters during the winter. Dress more warmly when around the house. Wear slippers and a heavy top, and light up your fireplace or pellet stove for increased warmth at low cost. Also, it has been shown that people sleep better in cooler temperatures.
A solar oven can be an easy and free way to bake. You can make these with simple items, such as boxes, an old window, and some foil for reflection. These ovens can reach temperatures of over 300 degrees, and use no outside energy other than the sun. They can be made in minutes.
Trim your fuel usage by carpooling to more places than just work. Carpooling with other neighborhood parents to transport children back and forth to school not only saves you time, it sames you money. You can also schedule grocery shopping and other errands with friends that live near you.
Is your boiler over 10 years old? Buy a new one to save money! Older boilers are not as energy efficient as new ones because people didn’t worry about the environment when they were made. Not only do they create less carbon dioxide, a poisonous gas, they can also lower your energy bill.
Energy Star
Replace your older appliances with the newer, energy-efficient ones that have Energy Star ratings. This rating ensures that the appliance was built to use less energy than the other non Energy Star products. For freezers and refrigerators, the rating guarantees 20 percent less energy used, 40 percent for dishwashers, and at least 50 percent when it comes to washing machines.
The easiest and best way to decrease energy expenses in the home is to simply turn off lights and devices when you exit a room. Simply turning off the lights when you aren’t using them can really save energy. You also have the added benefit of saving money on your power bill.
One of the easiest ways to get started with making your home more energy-efficient is to enlist the help of your electric company. Many utility companies have tools on their websites that will help you see how much energy you use, right down to the hour, as well as, ways to reduce your electric consumption and energy costs. Check out programs that help you buy energy-efficient light bulbs or appliances.
Even though appliances that are energy efficient cost more than those that are not, they are worth it because they will save you money over the long term. Green technology may be more expensive at first, but your utility bills will be reduced. A bonus is that you will be helping to protect the environment.
Take the time to weatherize your home to increase its energy efficiency. You can seal ducts, add in insulation, and put in new windows and cooling systems that are energy efficient so that you can reduce the energy it takes to operate your home. This will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home, thereby, saving you money on your utility bills.
Now it is up to you to apply what you have learned to make your home a greener place. If you use green energy, you are helping your own budget and it will make you feel like you are doing your part in conserving energy. Put these tips to work, in order to make the technology in your home greener and more efficient.
