A great way to make sure the environment is protected, while slashing energy costs, is to use green energy in your home. Buying an electric car isn’t the only way to reap these rewards! Continue on for some simple tips that will show you how to turn your home into one that is energy efficient on any type of budget.
Shade the windows from sunlight to conserve energy in summer. Do this by installing blinds or curtains. If you do these things, you will cut your use of air conditioning throughout the warm months, as your home will be a bit cooler. This means that you will save energy as well as money.
The government has grants available to those who are willing to invest in alternative renewable energies. Contact your local government in order to see the different programs available in your area. Who knows, you may qualify for low or no-cost wind or solar installation. Even if you don’t qualify for a grant, you can still use these items as a tax deduction.
Consider switching to solar-powered water heaters for your home. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are unlikely, you can purchase systems that circulate water through solar heating systems before pumping it inside for use. However, you should still have a traditional water heater as backup for times when the sun won’t come out or if you’re going to be using a lot of hot water.
Make sure your refrigerator is properly maintained. Refrigerators use a large amount of energy, so they should be taken care of to work their best. Be sure that you’re regularly cleaning the dust that builds up near the heating coils. Make sure the door seal is clean and also tight.
Before you decide on large energy-saving projects for your home, get a professional evaluation of your existing appliances, windows and insulation and your heating and cooling systems. They should be able to inform you about extra expenses you are paying for inefficient appliances, as well as the amount it would cost to upgrade to newer, energy-efficient models.
Monitor how many watts you’re using. Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt are both tools that help to monitor energy consumption. Plug your appliances into these devices and they can let you know how much energy they use in an hour, a month, or a year. This is a good way to find out how much your appliances are really costing you.
If you want to “go green” and do your part to help save the environment, you have a lot of options. You might not have the capacity to invest all of the money to go green immediately, but one can clean furnace filters and adjust the heat at home to be more green. Keep the water heater temperature around 120 degrees and save energy costs. Every small amount helps.
There are many ways to lower your energy bills and be more environmentally friendly. Use the tips here, both small and large, and you are on your way to becoming “green.” Share your tips and ideas with friends and family so they can reap the rewards of green energy! Use the tips you just learned immediately to save energy.
