Going green is beneficial for the private home, while benefiting the environment at large too. Simple changes in your home can make it energy-efficient and reduce your electricity bill. Continue reading to find some great advice to help you green your energy.
Instead of using your air conditioner in the summer, try to wear fabrics that are natural. Fabrics like cotton naturally draw moisture away from the skin, allowing it to stay cooler. Wear light colors; dark colors tend to make you feel warm and you will be likelier to turn on the air conditioner.
Instead of using the dryer, dry your laundry outdoors when weather permits. The sun can dry clothes quickly without using any power, with the added benefit of making your clothes smell extra-fresh. They will smell better than anything coming out of a dryer. Additionally, you will see a noticeable decrease in your utility bills.
Don’t use your electric heater when you can avoid it. Buy more warm clothing and use a fireplace to add heat to your home. Cool air helps sleeping patterns, as well as improving breathing.
Take advantage of any federal or local rebates that you may be entitled to receive. In some situations, your local utility company may provide rebates to offset some of the cost of such upgrades. The federal government offers tax write-offs and other credits in return for your changes. These rebates, credits, and other allowances can make it much more affordable to install renewable energy equipment on your property.
Unless you’re freezing to death, don’t turn the heat all the way up. If you feel a small chill, instead of turning up the heat, put on a sweatshirt or sweatpants. When your heat is running it uses more energy than necessary.
Pay attention to the watts used in your home. If you do not know the formula to figure out the energy each appliance uses, there are tools like a Kill-A-Watt that can give you the information instantly. Gadgets can be set to give you the energy-usage amounts for hours, months or years. This is helpful in showing you exactly what each appliance costs to run.
Write reminders for energy-efficient goals and check your utility bills. If you are more conscious of what your energy expenditures are, this could help to lower them. Cut down electricity and water consumption so you are likely to turn off appliances.
Try and invest in LED lights when you decide to decorate your home for any holiday season. A study was conducted by the U.S. The Department of Energy show that 2,000,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity could be saved if all Americans switched to LED lights. That’s a large amount of electricity–it would power 200,000 homes over the course of the year. If nothing else, you can cut down your power bill!
Use biofuels to heat up your home. The biofuel is produced using fats, wood and oils. If your existing furnace runs on propane, it is quite easy for a professional to make the alterations required so it can perform as efficiently using a fuel blend. Your fuel choices are likely to be between 20 and 99 percent biofuel. Talk to a professional before you use these types of fuels so you can do it safely.
Save energy by installing a new boiler. New boilers are more energy efficient than old ones. They have two advantages: reducing your energy bill by a large amount, and producing a lesser amount of CO2, which is much more healthy.
Buy products made of bamboo when buying wooden items. Bamboo is a green, grass product, but it is much stronger than most of the commercial wood types. Bamboo is becoming very popular and growing to be made for cutting boards for hard wood floors. This saves energy on the recycling and production end of manufacturing products.
It will pay off over time if you spend more on green efficient products in the future. Green technology may be more expensive at first, but your utility bills will be reduced. It will also have a positive impact on the environment.
If possible, switch the old windows in your home with newer, energy-efficient ones. These new types of windows cut energy bills, keep outside noises quiet, reduce carbon dioxide in your home and keep condensation to a minimum.
Try setting your heat at 61 degrees or less when you aren’t home, or when you have retired for the night. At this temperature, your home is not using much energy. You will decrease energy used and increase money saved.
This article has shown that it isn’t necessary to spend a lot of time or money on going green. Just making a few small changes in your home can save you on energy costs. Implement a few of these tips and pass the information on as well. You will be helping your family, your neighbors and the environment as a whole.
