Just the thought of making changes to a home in order to make it more green can be overwhelming to many homeowners. It can be very tough to know which changes will make the biggest environmental impact. Read the following green energy tips to get a better idea of where to start.
Wear natural fabrics instead of running your air conditioner during summer months. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw moisture naturally from the skin, making it cooler. Also, choose lighter colors. Darker colors absorb heat, which makes you feel warmer, meaning you’ll set your thermostat lower.
Solar Panels
Solar panels can be installed on your roof allowing you to use solar energy. However, before beginning this process, you need to realize a few things. Think about the amount of sunlight that hits your house on an average day. If your house is usually in the shade, solar panels will provide limited additional power.
You can save electricity by unplugging chargers when they are not in use. Chargers for cell phones, mp3 players, laptops and other devices draw some power when they are plugged in, regardless of whether you are actually charging the device.
Research different sources of green energy available to your community. Consider the expense of energy use in your home utilizing these energy sources while noting recent legislation about energy costs. You might find savings by switching from electric to natural gas for heating, or to well water from city water.
If you want to save money and energy, only run your dishwasher when it is completely full of dishes. It’s sacrilege to turn it on with just one or two dishes inside. You might be surprised by how much you can actually fit in the dishwasher. Make sure you take time to place the dishes in properly so as to maximize the space available.
When thinking about home solar systems, think about how much energy will be produced during winter. That way you won’t run out of energy during winter months, and you will have more than enough in the summer. And even more exciting, on some plans, you can receive money from utility companies if you use less energy than you generate.
Storm Doors
Air flow is controlled best in homes with storm windows and doors. Storm doors and windows decrease cold air from drafts. Energy efficiency improves by 45% when storm doors and windows are implemented, which are big energy savers.
Of course, no home’s energy usage is exactly the same. With these different characteristics, the green energy technologies that will work may vary, significantly. Some of these ideas and technologies will work in all homes, but some might not. Keep your home’s specifics in mind when determining which energy tips will work for you.
