Use wind, water or sun power to create energy and you can reduce your home energy costs in the process. People who want to have a greener home, should continue reading this article.
Using less energy daily means large energy and financial savings. If you’re not using particular appliances, unplug them! Always turn off the television and lights when you are not using them. This is easy to do and saves a lot of energy.
Switch to water heating systems that use solar power to heat hot tubs, pools and indoor water. Both natural gas and electricity are inefficient heating methods, while solar water heaters use the sun to constantly heat your water. Although these upgrades could cost a lot, they also might qualify for energy tax deductions.
Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. Charging devices for several common types of electronics, including laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players all draw “phantom power” if you keep them plugged in while they are idle.
Replace and clean furnace filters yearly, and check them monthly. Also, you may want your warm-air registers to have filters. Having filters prevents debris from building up inside your heating ducts, which would hinder the energy efficiency of your heating system.
When you are preparing to install a solar energy system, ensure that the power storing batteries are located nearby to the cells. This will prevent power from being lost in the cable. The cable also is less likely to block power generation by providing shade if you do this.
Take time to maintain your fridge properly. Refrigerators take up lots of energy, so making sure they’re in working order is always good to know. Make dusting the coils part of your weekly cleaning routine. Check the door seal for dirt, debris and leaks.
Storm Doors
In homes with storm doors and windows, air flow is controlled better. Storm windows and storm doors reduce the amount of cold air entering the home in the form of drafts. Homeowners will see a significant savings on their electric bill and will benefit from an increase in the energy efficiency of their home by up to 45 percent once stormed windows and doors are installed in their homes.
Have the bulk of your correspondence sent to your email. In other words, go paperless as much as possible. This will help the businesses you deal with cut down on energy costs, and it will also save you a lot of money on energy costs too. Not only that, it is also great for the environment too.
If you are trying to achieve a greener lifestyle, there are many options for you. 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. Lowering the temperature of the water heater to 120 degrees will save you money too. Every little thing you can do will help.
In order to keep up with energy efficiency goals, compare all your energy bills to previous year to see how much progress you are making. By being conscious of how you use energy, you can help significantly reduce the amount of energy you consume. So when you make true conscious efforts to reduce your electrical or water usage you make up a good habit of turning off appliances or lights which in turn helps your bill and the environment.
Consider replacing your wooden products with bamboo when buying new. Bamboo is a green, grass product, but it is much stronger than most of the commercial wood types. It is very easy to grow and is becoming more widely available. Retail outlets are selling many bamboo products, from flooring to cutting boards. This can save energy in the manufacturing process, as well as saving in recycling costs later.
Use your electric company to help you get started making your home a more energy-efficient place. Utility providers often have the option to buy your energy from renewable resources. Be sure to also check out any programs they have to help you purchase energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
Energy Star
The easiest way to find these appliances is to look on them for an Energy Star badge. Appliances with an ENERGY STAR designation meet the guidelines of the U.S. Dept. of Energy and also the EPA. Sometimes these products offer tax rebates.
Look at the seals on your freezer and refrigerator often to save energy. If the seal is loose or broken, your refrigerator will run more often than it should, which will run up your energy bill and harm the environment. To determine whether or not the seal needs to be replaced, close a piece of paper in the door and ensure that it doesn’t slide out too easily.
You can save a good amount of money on your energy bills by using a programmable thermostat in your home. They have certain setting that allow you to regulate the temperature during any time of the year. Additionally, you can set them to adjust and control the temperatures during daytime and nighttime periods.
The sooner you start using green energy, the sooner both you and the environment will start seeing the benefits. As this article states, going green isn’t something that is expensive or complicated. Use the advice you find here in working to create an environmentally friendly house today.
