There is a wealth of green energy information out there, and it can prove rather difficult to seek out precisely what you need. Read on to learn the basics of green energy technologies and which ones will work for you in your home.
The government has made grants for investing in renewable energy available to the public. If you are interested in getting free money to improve your home you should contact your local government for more information. It may be possible for you to get wind or solar installation for free, or you may be able to get a deductions on your taxes.
Make your home more energy efficient by unplugging your unused electronic devices. All the chargers you use for mp3 players, cell phones, laptops and any other devices draw in some charge when they’re plugged in and aren’t being used.
Keep drapes drawn when you are not home. This keeps the interior of your home cooler or warmer, depending on the season, and reduces your energy bill. Generally, your home’s south-facing walls and windows receive the most sun exposure. Make sure that all the windows are covered with dark curtains, blinds, roman shades, or whatever shade you choose.
Dry Clothes
Dry clothes on a clothelines during the summer. The sun could give your clothes an incredible smell. Laundry will smell fresher and cleaner, much more so than when they were in the dryer. Additionally, you will have substantial savings on your utility bills every month that you dry clothes outside.
Use a model which is tankless and more green instead of a tank style heater. Although they still use gas or electricity, they only heat on demand rather than maintaining an entire tank of hot water at all times. Tankless heaters can be acquired in models that could give the whole house or even just a single water faucet with water that is hot.
If you would like to live your life green, stay away from excess electric heater usage. Use a fireplace in place of the heater and wear warm layers of clothing. Keep in mind that it is actually better to breathe cool air while you sleep, since it keeps your airways from becoming dry.
Find out about federal and local rebates for updates about renewable energy for your home. In some cases, the local utility company will offer rebates for the cost of the upgrades. In other instances, credit or tax deductions are offered by federal or state governments. These credits and rebates will ultimately cut your costs of bringing green energy technology to your house.
Monitor your electricity consumption watt by watt. Use gadgets such as Kill-A-Watt or Watt Minder and figure out what your consumption is and where it is coming from. You can plug in various devices into these devices and see how much energy that item uses for periods of time including a hour, month, and even a year. This is helpful in showing you exactly what each appliance costs to run.
If you’re one of many who wants to live an environmentally friendly life, there’s plenty you can do. You might not be capable of spending lots of money in going green, but there are simple things that you could do such as cleaning your furnace’s filters each month or by setting your heat at sixty degrees when you are not at home. Lowering the temperature of your water heater can save energy as well. Every little thing you can do will help.
Energy Star Rated
Use Energy Star rated appliances instead of your old appliances. The Energy Star rating guarantees that the appliance you are using has been built to use much less energy than its non-rated predecessor. Refrigerators and freezers use 20% less energy and dishwashers use 40% less. Energy Star rated washing machines save at least 50% of the energy used by the older styles and also save a lot of water.
If you are not in a room, do not keep the lights on. You will be surprised at the amount of energy you save over a certain period of time by turning your lights off when they are not being used. Your power bills will also be significantly less.
A simple way to start going green is to talk to your power company. Most electric companies’ websites contain general information on how to save energy, as well as calculators that tell you how much energy making specific upgrades can save you. Look into programs that include discounts or rebates for purchasing more efficient appliances, light bulbs, thermostats or other products.
While sometimes going through a lot of information may not be fun, applying the tips laid out here will be. There are many affordable and simple changes you can incorporate in your own life and home to help you take advantage of all the green energy out there today. Your pocketbook, your conscience, and the environment will appreciate your effort.
