Ways You Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

You have likely heard a lot about green energy tips and technology in recent years. You may be confused. This is the best place to learn more about green energy and the technology that goes with it. Keep reading to learn some of the best ways that green-energy can help your home.

Find out about the various energy sources that are available in your local community. Compare the costs of various utilities, and take current or pending energy legislation into consideration. For instance, you may save on energy costs by heating your home with gas instead of with electricity or by using well water instead of city water.

It is important that if you take advantage of a dishwasher, that you only use it when you have a full load. Dishwashers consume a similar amount of water and electricity regardless of whether it contains one dish or 20. Run your dishwasher using the energy-saving mode so that you can air-dry dishes and save energy.

Calculate potential energy generation during the planning of buying home solar systems. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, while leaving you safely ahead of your needs during the summer. If your electric company bills on net usage, you will actually make money because yu generate more power than you consume.

If you are on a mission to go green, start by keeping electric heaters off or on a very low setting during winter months. You can wear warmer clothing instead, and warm up your home with your fireplace. In addition, this is beneficial to your health, as cooler air keeps your airways from getting too dry, allowing you to breathe easier while sleeping.

Take advantage of government rebates on renewable energy installations. Local utility companies may even offer rebates or other assistance with upgrades. In other instances, credit or tax deductions are offered by federal or state governments. These rebates and credits can substantially reduce the cost of installing green energy technology in your home.

Don’t set your thermostat to over 68 degrees if you can help it. If you feel a small chill, instead of turning up the heat, put on a sweatshirt or sweatpants. Having your heat turned up too high will consume a great deal of unnecessary energy.

Use LED lights to decorate for the holidays instead of traditional strand lights. The use of LED lights reduces the use of electricity according to research. Department of Energy, LED lights over the holidays could save as much as two billion kilowatts of energy consumption annually. That is enough power to run more than 200,000 homes for one whole year. But for your own part, this is a great way to cut that power bill down.

Energy Star

Replace aging major appliances with ENERGY STAR appliances. Energy Star ratings mean that your new appliances are technologically built to use less energy than previous models. Appliances like fridges and freezers can use up to 20% less energy, while washing machines can save up to 50%.

Start making your house more green by talking to your local electric company. Many power companies have websites with tools that allow you to calculate your hourly energy consumption and tips for reducing your bill. Check out the appliances and light bulbs that they recommend, as well as special programs to help you purchase them.

If you are planning to make your home a greener one, consider adding solar panels to your roof. While solar panels require a significant up-front investment, the cost savings you will enjoy over the course of several years can more than pay for it. Solar energy becomes free when the panels are installed and you may be able to sell power to some local electric companies.

Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you should be ready to convert to green energy. Apply the ideas that you’ve just learned, and start going green today. The environment, and your wallet, will both thank you for using this technology.