With the wealth of information available on green energy, it can seem daunting to find exactly what you are looking for, as well as what solutions will work in your home. This article will provide you with some basic information that can get you started down the road to using green energy in your own home.
The U.S. Government makes grant funds available as an incentive for consumers to start using green energy. Contact local government and discover the programs that exist locally. You may qualify for free wind or solar installation, or you may find that you can deduct some of your expenses on your taxes.
Whenever possible, you should use cold water to wash your clothes. Most of the energy used to wash clothes is actually used in heating up the water. Most good quality laundry detergents work just as well in cold water. Be sure to always do a full load of clothes when you wash.
Maybe you can use solar water heaters instead of traditional heating methods. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are not a problem, you can purchase a system that heats water through a heater that is solar before it pumps it in your home. You should still retain traditional water heaters for backup when the sun doesn’t show, or if you use a lot of heated water.
Turn it off. Turn it off. Turn it off. When you leave any room, turn off lights, tvs, computers or any other electrical devices. Try using a power strip so you can turn off all of your electronics at once, instead of letting power be wasted in standby mode.
Wait until your dishwasher’s full before running it. The same amounts of water and energy are used every time. Also ensure that it is set to air-dry if you are aiming to reduce your energy consumption.
Winter Months
When you consider solar heat for your home calculate potential hours of sunshine for energy generation during the winter months. That way you won’t run out of energy during winter months, and you will have more than enough in the summer. Combining this method with a net utilities plan will mean getting back money from the electric company during the summer, too.
If you are on a mission to go green, start by keeping electric heaters off or on a very low setting during winter months. A fireplace for the living area, wearing warmer clothing and purchasing some slippers are all greener ways of keeping the family warm. You will breathe better during your sleep if the air is cool.
If you dress warmer, you will help cut energy costs, which helps you to go green. Light or heavy sweaters will both provide you with additional warmth of up to 4 degrees. So, to save some money, pick up a nice warm sweater and refrain from dressing scantily.
A good energy saving tip is to switch your boiler. Many older boilers weren’t made to save energy, whereas the newer ones tend to be much more energy efficient. Newer boilers don’t produce as much carbon dioxide and use less energy, which saves on your energy costs and promotes better health.
Although this may seem like common sense, many people still keep the lights, appliances and electronics on when they are not using them. If a person put this practice into action, he or she would save a huge amount on the electric bill. Think in advance about what you need to do, and make it a habit to turn off anything that you are no longer using.
Look into bamboo products when purchasing wood items. Bamboo is very green and strong and is technically considered a grass. It replenishes itself rapidly, unlike most woods, and can be used for flooring, furniture and nearly any other wood product. That will save energy in production costs during manufacturing, as well as in recycling.
A really simple way to begin making your house energy-efficient is to get your electric company to help you. Some of the websites of these companies contain tools to show you the amount of energy you use. They may also provide you with advice on how to cut your energy costs and electricity usage. Electric companies can also show you how to get the best green-energy appliances and light bulbs.
Now that you have some information to work from, you can really get started on the road to going green. All these tips make using green energy technologies simple and affordable for the average home or business owner. Your family and your environment will thank you for it!