Converting to a green home does not have to be a difficult or expensive venture. It can be as easy and cheap as making a few home modifications that save electricity. Take advantage of the helpful tips in the article below to positively impact the environment with green energy.
You can make a difference and save energy simply by taking steps to use less energy every day. If there is an appliance you aren’t using, then unplug it. Turn off lights and the television when you are finished using them. This simple tip can go a long way in saving you money.
Wear natural fabrics during the summer in order to avoid wasting energy on air conditioning. Cotton and other natural fibers, draw the moisture away from your skin, and allow you to stay cooler. Wear light colors because these will make you warmer and it will be less likely for you to use artificial cold air.
Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible. Almost 90% of energy used for doing laundry is due to heating the water. Using a quality detergent means it is unnecessary to use hot water. Don’t forget to only wash clothes when you have a full load s you are as efficient with your energy as possible!
If your home is heated with fuel oil, ask a technician if you can switch to biodiesel. Some current systems can use forms of biodiesel without the need for modifications. The bonus of doing this is a cleaner burning fuel that is generally also more efficient, and you’ll lessen your impact on the environment also.
Find out what energy options your community has available. Compare costs, and keep in mind that new legislation exists which will sometimes reward you for using renewable energy sources. Think about switching to natural gas or well water as examples of simple changes.
Take time out to properly inspect your refrigerator. Since refrigerators tend to eat up a great amount of power, it is crucial you keep it in perfect working order. Clean the dust off of the heating coils on a regular basis. Make sure door seals are clean and tight.
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. These kinds of doors and windows reduces the amount of cold air that comes into the home. Sometimes electric savings can be up to 45 percent on homes that have storm windows as opposed to single pane windows.
If you are on a mission to go green, start by keeping electric heaters off or on a very low setting during winter months. Use a fireplace in place of the heater and wear warm layers of clothing. It is better to sleep in cooler air, it helps you breathe, and keeps your airways moist.
Whenever possible, choose to get your communications through email. In other words, choose to go paperless in any way you can. You and the businesses you deal with can both save energy and money by going paperless. As you can see, going paperless helps the environment in many ways.
Buy a solar oven to provide for the needs of your kitchen. You can make these with simple items, such as boxes, an old window, and some foil for reflection. These ovens are no slouches. They can be heated up to 300 degrees, consume no energy, and are simple to construct.
Monitor how many watts you use. Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt are both tools that help to monitor energy consumption. If you attach the device to the appliances in your home, it will let you know how much energy that appliance uses for different lengths of time. This will make you realize what a given appliance costs you over the long run.
Replacing your boiler unit is an excellent way to save energy. Old boilers weren’t manufactured with energy-savings in mind. New ones, however, are made to be energy efficient. Not only can they shave money off your energy bill, but they benefit your health by releasing less carbon dioxide.
The venerable habit of turning of unnecessary lights when leaving a room is still very effective. Get yourself into the habif of always turning lights off and you can save a lot of energy. You also have the added benefit of saving money on your power bill.
Even though people know better, they often forget to turn off unused appliances, lights and computer equipment. If you make this a habit, your energy bills could be greatly reduced. Think in advance about what you need to do, and make it a habit to turn off anything that you are no longer using.
Don’t overlook your utility company’s resources when it comes to making your home greener. Most utility companies have an area on their website that will show you your exact energy usage hourly, along with various ways to lower the amount of energy used and lessen your costs. Check out the appliances and light bulbs that they recommend, as well as special programs to help you purchase them.
Automatic light sensors including motion detection should be installed. These will turn off lights in rooms if you aren’t in them, which will save money and energy. Include sensors on your outdoor lighting and lights in the garage, as well.
Save some money by looking into placing your freezer or refrigerator in a part of the house that is usually cooler. Placing them in a sunny location or directly in front of heating vents can increase the time that they need to run.
Green energy can benefit anyone, whether they think global warming is real or not. You can save a lot of money each month just by making changes, such as turning off lights when you aren’t using them.
