It’s important to keep our environment clean and resources abundant for future generations. Using green energy will help you save money and do your part to protect the environment. In this article, you will find great ideas that will make green energy a way of life.
When creating an outdoor light set up for a garden path or patio, think of solar powered lamps as an option. These lamps are cheap and don’t require any power besides sun exposure. This saves you a lot of energy. Also, it will no longer be necessary to install wired outdoor lights.
Solar water heating is a great way to decrease the expense of heating water used for showers and swimming pools. Using gas or electricity to heat water isn’t efficient. However, solar water heaters use the sun to make water comfortable and reduce energy consumption. By doing certain upgrades to your home, you can often earn extra incentives and even cut backs on your energy bill.
If you want to save money and energy, only run your dishwasher when it is completely full of dishes. Properly loading the dishwasher prior to running it will save both energy and money. Dishwashers can usually hold many dishes. Think carefully about where you place each dish for optimal storage in the washer.
A solar energy array can be the cheapest way to getting your hot water. Check into investing in a water system that is solar-powered. You could choose of having an indirect or direct circulation system. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.
Storm Windows
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. This is because storm windows and doors prevent drafts, which means less cold air enters the home. Storm windows and doors boosts energy efficiency as much as 45%, which can cut electricity costs.
Don’t use your electric heater when you can avoid it. Instead, start wearing warmer clothing indoors and use a pellet stove or fireplace to keep main living areas heated. Cool air while sleeping is better for your breathing.
Try to learn about passive and active solar power. Passive solar power doesn’t need expensive cells in order to store power, although active is stored for later use. Active power requires the installation of solar panels, mechanical systems, and cells. Passive energy is about using windows and insulation to keep your home warm and well-lit.
Use a laptop for your computing needs rather than a power hungry desktop. That can reduce up to two-thirds of your power usage; that is especially true if you frequently use word processing or the internet. Another benefit of the laptop is that it’s portable, so it can be used anywhere.
Hiring professionals, such as a heating professional or plumber, to come to your home can lay any doubts you have about green energy to rest. They can provide an estimate of how much money inefficient appliances and systems are costing you, and they can tell you what upgrading or replacing such systems will cost.
Whenever possible, keep the heat in your home turned down. If it’s a bit chilly, put sweatpants or a sweatshirt on. Higher levels of heat use a lot of excess energy!
Monitor how many watts you’re using. If you do not know the formula to figure out the energy each appliance uses, there are tools like a Kill-A-Watt that can give you the information instantly. Plus an appliance into the gadget and it will tell you how much energy it is using. This will show you the cost of your appliance.
Heat your home with biofuels. Bio-fuels consist of vegetable fat, animal fat, oils and wood. Many times, furnaces that are propane can be changed by a pro so that you can heat using this blend of fuels. Fuels are anywhere from 20-99 percent biodiesel. Schedule a consultation with a professional prior to making the switch to biofuels in your home.
Consider changing out a standard toilet for one that is built to save water. Toilets account for fifty percent of the water used in a home. With the older model of toilets, the amount of water consumed each time they are flushed is 5 gallons; however, the newer, water-saving models consume only 1.6 gallons per flush, which will yield a saving of approximately 70 percent in your annual water consumption.
Use an on-demand water heater to save energy. Unlike conventional water heaters, green water heaters are not constantly running, which wastes tons of energy. The water heaters that heat on-demand only heat water that is immediatly needed and save a lot on energy costs.
You may want to get bamboo items when you’re in the market for something made out of wood. Bamboo is technically grass and is a “green product”, but it is often much stronger than other available woods. Bamboo grows quickly and it used for several products including flooring. This saves energy on the recycling and production end of manufacturing products.
Spending a little more on green appliances and electronics generally pays off over time. Green technology appliances can cost a bit more up front, but you will be paid back through lower energy bills for the life of the appliances. This will pay off for the environment, too.
You can easily help the environment and have an energy efficient home by using these green energy tips. The money you save usually makes it worth the effort!