It is a daunting thought when considering making a home-wide change to greener energy use. It can be awfully difficult to know where to begin and which changes are going to benefit you and the environment the best. Take the time to read through the following tips to find the things that are best for your home.
Making small adjustments to the way you use energy every day can ultimately reduce your consumption. When not using a certain appliance, unplug it from the outlet. Turn off lights, television sets and other small appliances when you are done using them. These simple tips can save you money, as well as saving electricity.
Solar panels that collect solar energy to be used are easy to have installed at your home. However, before you do this, there are a few things that you need to take care of. A major factor in choosing if you can use a solar system is the amount of sunlight your home receives on average. If you live somewhere where the sun doesn’t shine often, or in a shady location, you won’t get as much benefit from solar power.
Replace or clean your furnace filters yearly, and recheck them monthly. Adding filters to warm-air registers is also beneficial. This will prevent a reduction in efficiency, which occurs when the heating ducts get clogged with debris.
When doing laundry, try to use cold water. Almost ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine comes from heating the water for a warm or hot cycle. Just make sure you don’t harm your clothes in the process; check out the labels on your clothes and make a judgment for yourself. Also, make sure your load is a full one so you do not waste energy washing several small loads.
Use window treatments to shade the inside of your home when you aren’t home. These help your home remain cool and keep your energy bill down when you are not there. Windows that face south tend to get more sun due to their orientation. Think about covering all of your windows with different types of shades and curtains.
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.
Solar Power
Be sure to learn more about passive and active solar power. Active systems store the solar energy for use later, while passive systems just use the sun’s heat as energy. Active power needs solar panels installed, cells, and mechanical systems. Passive solar power is more basic and simply uses your home in its existing state as heat storage.
There are many different types of layouts for many homes. With different qualities and options, green tech option efficacy will vary quite a bit. Some tips are universal and work for everyone, and some are not. Use the tips that work for your home and implement them to save energy and money.
