Making the switch to green energy has many home and environmental benefits. You can change some simple things in your home to make it more energy efficient, while cutting electricity costs! Keep reading to discover some simple ways to conserve energy in the home.
Solar water heaters are a great option and can significantly decrease the cost involved with heating all of the water in your home. Both natural gas and electricity are inefficient heating methods, while solar water heaters use the sun to constantly heat your water. You may be eligible for tax deductions for using energy efficient upgrades.
A simple way to save energy is to close the curtains. Curtains or blinds can also be used to do this. If you do both of these it will cool your house down so you won’t have to use as much air conditioning in the summer. You will save energy and money as well.
Check with a technician and see if switching to biodiesel for your home instead of fuel oil is a viable option for you. Many systems can use biodiesels without any modification. Biodiesel burns cleaner and more efficiently than conventional petroleum, reducing your home’s environmental impact during the winter.
Cover your windows when you are away from home. This will help save energy. The result will be a cooler house because the window’s admit less heat. Southern facing windows receive the most sunlight. Use coverings on each of your home’s windows, such as roman shades, dark curtains, or roller shades.
Instead of using a clothes dryer, hang your clothes in the sun to dry in the summer months. In addition to the energy savings, you clothes will smell incredible. They will be fresher than clothes dried in the dryer. As well, you save quite a bit on monthly utility costs.
When you are not using something, turn it off. Upon leaving a particular room, remember to turn of the lights, television, computer or even the entertainment center. A power strip is an easy way to turn off multiple appliances at once, so consider placing one in a conspicuous place where many electronics are located.
If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, do not operate before it fills up. A half load uses the exact same amount of water and energy as a full one. Also ensure that it is set to air-dry if you are aiming to reduce your energy consumption.
Do maintenance on your fridge to save money. Since refrigerators tend to eat up a great amount of power, it is crucial you keep it in perfect working order. Keep heating coils dust free. Make sure door seals are clean and tight.
Look for federal and local rebates that apply to renewable energy at home. In some cases, the local utility company will offer rebates for the cost of the upgrades. You may also get state and federal tax deductions for making your home more energy efficient. Rebates and credits will help to offset the cost of implementing green energy technology you want to add to your home.
A solar oven can be made to assist you in your baking needs. These can be made with readily available items like an old window, box, and piece of foil for reflection. These types of oven can become very hot with adequate sunlight, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
Use biofuels to heat up your home. The biofuel is produced using fats, wood and oils. In most cases, if you have a propane furnace, you can hire someone to switch it out to be able to use biofuel. This fuel would contain anywhere from 20-99% biodiesel. Before you try to use this kind of fuel inside your house, just make sure you speak to a professional.
In order to cut down on fuel usage, you should consider using carpooling not only for work, but for other activities too. Ask other parents in the neighborhood if they are interested in carpooling for their children and trade days with them. If you are near friends and family, go food shopping together and take turns driving.
One way to use less energy in the kitchen is to use a microwave oven. Ovens use much more energy than the microwave for cooking. Any time you could perform a task in the microwave without altering the results, such as boiling water, do so. You can conserve a significant amount of energy this way.
You should seek out help from your electric company as you begin to make your home energy-efficient. You can look on the company’s website for tool that track your energy consumption and tips for saving energy. Also see if they offer discounts for purchasing certain energy-efficient items, such as appliances or light bulbs.
Put lights sensors with motion detectors in the rooms you use the most. Use these sensors to turn the lights off when no one is in the room, which will save you money as you use less energy. Don’t forget to also include the outdoor lighting above your garage, too!
One way to make your home use less energy is to weatherize it. A few of the most important things to do include sealing ducts, replacing windows, installing a modern water heater and adding insulation to your attic and walls. You may also see real savings on your energy bill!
You can reduce the amount of time your refrigerator or freezers runs by locating it in a cool place. Try keeping these appliances away from any direct sunlight or hot vents which can raise their temperature and have them run longer than needed.
As said previously in this article, going green doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming! Saving energy is just a matter of making a few minor changes to how you live. If you utilize these tips in the article, you will be helping to save the environment for future generations. Pass the tips onto your friends as well.
