A great way to use the environment to your advantage is to use things like the wind, water or sun to generate energy for your home. If you are looking for information on how to use green energy technology at home, continue on for some helpful tips that will show you how to go about accomplishing this.
Use natural fabrics in the summer instead of turning up the AC. Cotton and other fabrics draw sweat from the skin and make you cool. Also, choose lighter color clothing, which reflects the sun rather than absorbs its heat.
There are government grants available to help people invest in green energy. To find out which programs are available in your area contact your local government. You may qualify for wind or solar installation with little cost, or possibly you may be able to use it as deduction on your taxes.
Solar Panels
Getting solar panels put in at home is simple and easy to attain energy from this source. However, there are several things to consider before making any decisions. One major factor to consider with solar panels is the amount of sunlight your home receives. If the area is shady, or you are in a region that doesn’t receive much sunshine, then you won’t be gaining much power.
Do you have a lot of land? If you do happen to own some farmland, try renting some of the land to a power company that specializes in wind energy solutions. You and those around you can benefit from the free energy. A turbine doesn’t take up much space, either.
During the summer, you should try drying your clothes out in the sun instead of using a dryer. The sun could give your clothes an incredible smell. They will smell a lot fresher than being dried in the drier. You will also save on your utilities bills by line drying your laundry.
When you plan a solar system for your home, try calculating what the energy generation of your system will be when you use hours worth of sun in the winter. This prevents any unanticipated effects from a winter months, and it keeps you ahead of the game for summer months. Combining this method with a net utilities plan will mean getting back money from the electric company during the summer, too.
Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer. Making this switch can reduce your power consumption by up to 75%. This is especially true if you are an Internet addict or do heavy word processing. Additionally, you can carry a laptop with you, so it’s possible to use it wherever you want.
Switch over to getting information through email. Don’t use paper whenever you can afford to do so. You help both you and other businesses you communicate with save resources and energy. This also keeps the environment in better shape for everyone.
Monitor how many watts you use. Use gadgets such as Kill-A-Watt or Watt Minder and figure out what your consumption is and where it is coming from. Plug these gadgets into an appliance to find out how much energy is used in an hour, a month or a year. This is a good way to find out how much your appliances are really costing you.
When you decorate a tree or the exterior of your home for the holidays, choose LED light strands instead of regular lights. According to a study by the U.S. If everyone were to switch to LED lights, the country as a whole would save 2 billion kwh per year. That amount of electricity could power 200,000 homes for an entire year. Saving money on your electric bill is the least that can happen.
Get a water-saving toilet. Toilets account for approximately 50 percent of water usage in the average home. Older toilets use around five gallons of water for every flush. This is about 3 times the amount of a green toilet.
Ask the electric company to help you figure out how to increase the energy efficiency in your home. A lot of them have the option on their website that will show you how much energy your household is using. They may also show ways you can lower your energy usage. Also see if they offer discounts for purchasing certain energy-efficient items, such as appliances or light bulbs.
If you can afford it, you should consider installing new, energy star rated windows. Windows with a better seal will reduce your energy bills, keep road noise out of your house, and limit window condensation.
Thawing frozen food in your fridge is another good energy saver. This is a safe way to that food, but also decreases your fridges temperature. This means less energy is needed.
You should make ice yourself if you want to reduce the amount of energy you use. Most ice makers use way too much energy and aren’t reliable. They can also have leaky seals, which increases freezer temperatures. Avoid these issues altogether by making ice in trays.
Not only does green energy save you money, but it’s gentler on earth as well. As stated in this article, going green doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.