Many people do not know where to start with going green. Does it seem like it would be a personal or financial hardship to go green? Don’t worry about the past any long, just worry about what is ahead. Read through this article and see how you can learn to change your home today.
If you are considering purchasing outdoor lighting look into solar lamps. These lamps are very cheap, as they require no external power source, just the sun. This not only saves energy. It also means you don’t need hard wired outdoor lights.
Natural Fabrics
Wear natural fabrics instead of running your air conditioner during summer months. Natural fabrics, such as cotton, allow skin to remain cool by drawing moisture away from skin. Choose lighter colors so that you feel cooler and can resist turning up the air conditioning.
Reduce your energy consumption by unplugging anything that is not in use, especially battery chargers. All the chargers you use for mp3 players, cell phones, laptops and any other devices draw in some charge when they’re plugged in and aren’t being used.
Do your laundry using cold water, if you can. Almost 90% of the power you use to do laundry is simply used to heat the water. If your detergent is decent, cold water will be as effective as hot when cleaning your laundry. In addition, remember to wash full loads to maximize energy efficiency.
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Find out what the cost of using these utilities to run your home would be. You might find that you could save money by switching from an electric furnace to a natural gas one, for instance, or from using municipal water to your own well water.
During the summer months, think about using the heat from the sun to dry your clothes instead of utilizing a dryer. This can cause your clothes to smell really good. They will be fresher than clothes dried in the dryer. In addition, you will save a lot of money on your monthly utility bills.
Batteries need to be situated closely to the cells in solar power systems. No power will be lost during the transfer from the cells to the batteries by doing this. This also prevents long cables from casting shadows over the PV cells.
Active Power
Be sure to learn more about passive and active solar power. Active power can be stored for later use. Passive power must be utilized more quickly but no expensive storage cells are required. Active power will require a large installation process and can cost a great deal more. Passive energy is using the sun’s thermal energy to heat your house.
Whenever possible, keep the heat in your home turned down. If you’re chilly, add a layer of clothing, such as a sweatshirt and some sweatpants. If you turn the heat up to 75 degrees, you are using a ton of unnecessary energy.
If you want to live a life that is greener, there are many things that can be done to save the planet’s energy. For example, cleaning your furnace filters every month and turning down the heat when you aren’t at home will greatly increase the efficiency of your furnace. You can also help reduce energy usage by reducing the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees. Even the smallest amount of effort can help.
Use biofuels to heat up your home. This type of fuel is usually made with a combination of animal fat, vegetable oil and wood. A propane furnace can be converted to use these types of fuels, or fuel blends. The blend you would use could be made up of 20%-99% biodiesel. Talk to a professional before you use these types of fuels so you can do it safely.
To cut back on your fuel usage, consider carpooling for more than just work. Ask other parents in the neighborhood if they are interested in carpooling for their children and trade days with them. You can even carpool to the supermarket with your neighbors.
Use the microwave when you can in order to save on energy consumption. Each time you cook in the oven or stove, you tend to use lots of energy. Whenever possible, heat things in the microwave to cut energy costs.
Ask your electric company for tips and advice on how to cut your electric bill. Many utility companies have tools on their websites that will help you see how much energy you use, right down to the hour, as well as, ways to reduce your electric consumption and energy costs. Electric companies can also show you how to get the best green-energy appliances and light bulbs.
60 Degrees
When you leave your home or go to bed, set the thermostat at 60 degrees. Having the heat set at 60 degrees uses the minimum quantity of energy possible. As a result, you can minimize the energy you use, and save money.
So how do you go about altering things at home so that green energy can be put to good use? The information contained here shows you where to start, so it’s all up to you now. Once you get started, you will be simply delighted and amazed with what happens!