Perhaps you’ve heard a lot about green energy and its accompanying technology, and you are interested in how you can incorporate it into your life. If you’re wondering about green technology and how to use it, this article will help you. Keep reading to find out what you can do to bring green energy into your home.
Use a solar water heater to keep your pools, tubs and plumbing full of piping hot, but cheap, water. Solar water heaters use the sun’s heat to warm water rather than using natural gas or electricity for heat. Although some of these systems cost more initially, many qualify for tax credits or deductions.
Take advantage of government grants if you plan to invest in renewable energy sources. Contact your city or county government and ask about energy conservation programs available in your area. You can qualify for installation of solar power at little to no cost.
Solar panels are easy to install. However, before beginning this process, you need to realize a few things. Think about how much sun your house typically gets. If you’re in a shady area, or a place that doesn’t have many sunny days, you won’t be able to gain as much power.
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Find out what the cost would be to switch, how much it would cost to maintain, and whether your government has any legislation regarding its use. You may choose, for example, to go from electric to natural gas for heating, or using a well instead of city water.
Don’t use your electric heater when you can avoid it. You can wear warmer clothing instead, and warm up your home with your fireplace. An additional benefit to limiting the amount of electrical heaters is that it helps prevent your airways from becoming dry, resulting in better breathing.
Unless you’re freezing to death, don’t turn the heat all the way up. If you find the air a little chilly, put on a sweater or an extra pair of socks. When your heat is turned to a higher temperature, unnecessary energy is being used too much.
Turns Driving
If you really want to take a bit out of your fuel consumption, try making more extensive use of carpools, even to destinations other than the office. Talk with other parents and try to arrange a carpool schedule so that you all take turns driving your kids to school. If you love in close proximity to family members or friends, try to synchronize your shopping trips with them, and you can each take turns driving.
Get a water-saving toilet. Experts estimate that almost half of a home’s use of water is flushed. Older toilets use 5 gallons per flush, whereas new models use less than 2 gallons.
An on-demand (tankless) water heater is very green. Regular hot water heaters keep hot water at a constant temperature, even if you aren’t using it. On-demand heaters only heat water when necessary, which greatly reduces energy costs.
Consider switching out your home’s older windows with newer ones that are rated for superior energy efficiency. Not only will you reduce your energy bills, you will enjoy a much quieter home. You will also have a lot less condensation, resulting in less mold growth and water damage.
Energy Star
One simple way to recognize products and appliances that are energy efficient is to locate those with the ENERGY STAR designation. The ENERGY STAR guidelines are set by the U.S. Department of Energy and additionally the EPA Sometimes these products offer tax rebates.
One way to reduce energy consumption is to lower your thermostat in the winter. Consider setting your thermostat to 60 degrees during the night or while you are away. At 60 degrees you use the lowest amount of energy you could possibly use. The resulting effect is energy usage cuts and money saved.
You may want to install solar panels on the roof to create a more eco-friendly home. While solar panels are a bit of an investment, they save a ton of money in the long run. Solar energy is free once panels are installed, and you might even have the opportunity to sell off some of this power to local electric companies.
Heat rooms separately. Consider getting baseboard heating to adjust the heat in every room. That is a great solution, particularly if your home is large.
There are a few different ways to reduce your energy consumption when doing laundry. First, use the sensor setting that automatically turns off the dryer when the laundry has dried. You can also reduce drying time buy using the high-speed spin cycle on your washer. You should also keep the dryer lint traps clean and look for any blockages in dryer vents.
While solar energy may not be a whole-house option for your home, consider a partial solar set-up that can offset part of your utility consumption. For instance, just installing enough solar panels to provide hot water helps a lot.
Now that you are aware of what exactly is green energy, hopefully you are now ready to incorporate some of these ideas at home. Use the information offered here to make the needed changes in your home. Your wallet and the environment will be very thankful for this technology.
