Because of the economic climate, green energy is becoming even more well known. Green energy is an inexpensive way to keep other natural resources and it is also a way for people to spend less money in such economic times. Read on for some great ideas on how you can go greener with the use of energy in your home.
Simply lessening the amount of daily energy consumption can save lots of energy. If you’re not using particular appliances, unplug them! Turn off your TV and lights once you leave a room. This can save you money and it’s simple.
If you are considering purchasing outdoor lighting look into solar lamps. They are inexpensive and don’t require electricity. This, of course, will save you a lot of money. It will also mean you can avoid installing underground wiring.
Use window treatments to shade the inside of your home when you aren’t home. This keeps the interior of your home cooler or warmer, depending on the season, and reduces your energy bill. Pay particular attention to covering the windows on the south side of your house. They typically admit the most sun. Cover all of these windows with curtains, blinds or roller shades.
Energy Sources
Check what other energy sources are available in your neighborhood. Consider the expense of energy use in your home utilizing these energy sources while noting recent legislation about energy costs. For example, it might be wise to use natural gas instead of electric heat or water from the well rather than city water.
Solar hot water heaters are an excellent way to have lower costs on your hot water energy use. Solar hot-water systems can reduce your energy bills significantly. It is possible to chose between direct and indirect circulation systems. If frozen pipes are common in your area, an indirect water heater will be your best option.
Install batteries very close to cells when you are putting together a solar energy system. No power will be lost during the transfer from the cells to the batteries by doing this. This also prevents the long cables from casting shadows over the PV cells.
Keep your refrigerator properly maintained. Refrigerators use a large amount of energy, so they should be taken care of to work their best. Make a regular habit of removing dust from the refrigerator’s heating coils. Inspect the door’s seal for tightness and cleanliness.
Use a laptop computer instead of desktop, which uses much more energy. You can actually save up to 75% on your electrical usage, especially if you use your computer all the time. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!
Hire professionals to talk to you about installing new systems. They will let you know how much you can save by upgrading to more efficient appliances and systems, and also give you a good idea of how much it will cost.
Don’t turn the thermostat up higher than needed in your home. Wear sweatpants and a sweater if you are chilly. When you keep the heat unnecessarily high you use far more energy than you need to–and that is expensive!
Kilowatt Power
Use LED lights on your Christmas tree or when decorating your home for Christmas. Over two billion kilowatt power hours can be saved! The United States Department of Energy states over 2 billion hours of kilowatt power could by saved by a nationwide change. This is enough energy to power 20,000 houses in one year. But for your own part, this is a great way to cut that power bill down.
If you’re in the market for new appliances, make sure they have a high Energy Star rating. An appliance that has Energy Star uses less energy than an appliance that doesn’t have it. Refrigerators and freezers use about 20 percent less energy, while the energy that washing machines use is cut in half.
To save energy during cooking, use your microwave whenever it’s feasible. Whenever you use your stove or oven, you use a significant amount of energy. By using the microwave, you are cutting down the amount of energy you use a great deal.
Search for an Energy Star logo when shopping for appliances in order to find the most energy-efficient ones. Appliances with an ENERGY STAR designation meet the guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy as well as the Environmental Protection Agency The products with this distinction are often the only eligible ones that can be used for tax rebates.
During the winter, keep using ceiling fans. Switching them to the clockwise rotation lets them push the warm air from your ceiling where it collects, which reduces use of your heating appliances. The energy you will save from not having to use the furnace as much will cover what you need for the fan.
Make your home greener by prioritizing the responsible usage of lighting. In the brighter months, don’t turn lights on until past a certain time. You can use dimmers to adjust light usage to a lower amount, and timers or sensors can be used to be sure that lights aren’t left on after someone has left a room.
A good green energy tip that will also save you some money is to reduce the temperature to 120 degrees on the water heater. That can save you almost 10% on your power bill if your family size is 4, and will provide you with a safe and adequate temperature for your hot water.
In addition to saving you money, the advice from this article will help to protect the environment. Green energy can easily be implemented into consumer’s lives using the aforementioned tips and techniques.
