There are quite a few ways to use energy that’s green in your house, and you’ll be surprised at how easy and cost effective they are to use. This article provides you with the information needed to make your own home more green.

Solar powered outdoor lighting is a wonderful enhancement to your outdoor living areas. Solar-powered lamps are usually inexpensive, and they don’t need any power source besides the sun. You will not only reduce the energy you use. It also ensures that there is no need to wire lights outdoor.

Solar Panels

Install solar panels and reap the benefits easily. Before you do this though, you need to think about a few things first. How much sun is your house getting on average? If you home is shaded, the amount of energy collected from solar panels will be greatly reduced.

If you have a farm try some energy saving alternatives. If you have a lot of land, energy companies will pay you for the right to set up a wind turbine on it. The wind turbine will provide free energy without taking up much room. Your neighbors will also benefit from this energy source.

Consider installing a solar water heating system. If freezing temperatures are never a concern in your area, consider a system that circulates water through solar heaters before sending it into your house. It’s a good idea to use a supplemental water heater, however, if you cannot count on constant sunshine or if your hot water consumption is high.

As you plan for a solar energy array, use winter time sunshine hours to calculate from. This prevents unpleasant surprises in the winter, and it saves money during the summer. If you generate excess energy during the summer, with the right plan, your utility company will send you a check!

Air flow is better controlled in home that has stormed doors and windows installed. The cold air which comes in from drafts can be reduced with proper care for doors and windows. Homes equipped with storm windows and doors can see an increase in energy efficiency of up to 45 percent.

Use electric heaters minimally in the winter. A fireplace for the living area, wearing warmer clothing and purchasing some slippers are all greener ways of keeping the family warm. Also, it has been shown that people sleep better in cooler temperatures.

Active Power

Be sure to learn more about passive and active solar power. Passive solar power doesn’t require the costly power-storage cells that active power does. To use active power it requires mechanical systems, solar panels and cells. Passive power uses the sun for thermal energy in the home.

If you don’t know about investing a lot into green energy in your home, hire pros, such as heating experts and plumbers, to give you an assessment of your current systems. These professionals can explain how efficient your systems are, and how much it will probably cost to change or replace them.

Try receiving as much messaging as you can via email. Live a paperless lifestyle whenever possible. This kills two birds with one stone: you save energy and encourage businesses with whom you correspond to do so, as well. In addition, going paperless helps the environment, something that everyone benefits from.

Keep an eye on how many watts of electricity you use. Use gadgets like the Watt Minder and the Kill-A-Watt so that you can discover what uses the most energy. Plug your appliances into these devices and they can let you know how much energy they use in an hour, a month, or a year. This way, you will know how much that appliance costs you, and you can adjust your usage or settings accordingly.

Create reminders for yourself in order to stay focused on your energy efficiency goals. Try to check your utility bill occasionally in order to see the progress you are making. Just thinking more about your energy usage will help you to change habits that lead you to over-use energy. So when you make true conscious efforts to reduce your electrical or water usage you make up a good habit of turning off appliances or lights which in turn helps your bill and the environment.

Try and invest in LED lights when you decide to decorate your home for any holiday season. Research has shown that in the United States alone, more than two billion kilowatt hours worth of power could be saved if everyone made this transition. A study by the Department of Energy needs everyone to make this change. That is enough electricity to power 200 thousand homes for a whole year. At least you will be saving money on your power bill.

Energy Star

Replace your old appliances for newer ones that have an Energy Star rating. This is your guarantee that your new appliances will use less energy, and therefore cost you less to run. The amount of energy saved varies by appliances; you can save a lot of energy on your washing machine, refrigerator and dishwasher use if you switch to Energy Star appliances.

Try a water-saving commode in your bathroom. You can save a lot of water from being flushed away if you upgrade to an energy efficient model. Older models of toilets can have a capacity of 5 gallons. That is 5 gallons of wasted water per flush. New water saving models use closer to a gallon and a half of water per flush. This can save 70 percent of the water you used previously.

Replace your windows with more energy-efficient ones. These windows reduce energy costs, makes your home quieter, releases less carbon dioxide, and your windows will acquire less condensation.

It is a good idea to check the seal of your fridge and freezer frequently to avoid wasting energy. Broken seals let the cold or hot air escape from your oven and fridge, wasting that energy and costing you money. A good seal test involves placing a piece of paper in the door of the fridge or freezer and see how easily it slides out.

Everything you’ve read here is easy to get started with, so make sure you take the initiative and put them to use. Taking the time to green your energy will give you peace of mind, so make the changes today to enjoy the rewards, tomorrow!

Another warning about messages and texts that come with a live link

I received a text that appeared to be from energy provider Green Star requesting payment. “This is a polite reminder that your bill is almost due for payment. There are a number of quick and easy ways you can pay,” it said. The message came with a link that would have taken me to a fake payments website.

You may want to warn other readers.

Continue reading…

Read more: theguardian.com

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Eating healthy can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be if you have the right kitchen tools to help you prep good meals.
From a spiralizer and pair of herb scissors to pineapple corer and avocado knife, we’ve rounded up a few essentials that everyone should have in their kitchen.

In a world of takeout, fast food, and nuke-em-in-the-microwave meals, you might be spending less and less time in your kitchen. And that’s a shame, because not only does home cooking done right taste a lot better than prepackaged food or meals bought on the run, it’s frequently healthier and more economical, as well.

If you need some encouragement to get back in the kitchen, we’re here to help. We’ve rounded up nine kitchen gadgets that admittedly you could live without, but you probably won’t want to. Each one helps to make your food prep or cooking time a little easier, a little faster, a little healthier, or a little bit more fun. Best of all, none of them are expensive or complicated.

These gadgets are handy tools to bring back the joy of cooking and keep you healthy. Many of them inspire you to eat more fresh veggies, herbs, and fruit, while others help you prep meals with fewer oils and carbs.

Here are the best kitchen gadgets for eating healthy you can buy:

Best gadget for fresh veggie noodles: 5-blade Spiralizer
Best gadget for quick salads: EZ Salad Cutting Bowl
Best gadget for healthy baking: Velesco Silicone Baking Mat
Best gadget for fresh herbs: Jenaluca Herb Scissors
Best gadget for easy straining: Kitchen Gizmo Snap ‘N Strain Strainer
Best gadget for fresh pineapple: Super Z Outlet Corer
Best gadget for quick zest: Raniaco Zester
Best gadget for fuss-free guacamole: OXO Avocado Tool
Best gadget for easy meat shredding: Bear Paws Shredder Claws

Keep scrolling to read more about each kitchen gadget, to see which ones are best for you.A spiralizer
Spiralizer

The Spiralizer 5-Blade Vegetable Slicer turns humble veggies and fruits into noodles, curly toppings for salads, and healthy garnishes for any dish.

Zoodles and other veggie noodles are one of the hottest new trends in the kitchen, and it’s no wonder. They taste good, provide the base for whatever tasty sauce you’d like to pour on top, and pack a powerful punch of nutrients without wheat or other grains you might want to avoid. You can buy pre-spiralized zoodles in many markets these days, but they are expensive. Save your dollars, and do your own spiralizing instead.

Just choose one of the five cutlery-grade stainless-steel blade plates included with the Spiralizer 5-Blade Vegetable Slicer, clamp your veggie or fruit into position, and turn the crank. Voila, you’ve got thin curls of veggie deliciousness that are perfect for stir-frying, soups, salads, pasta dishes, bowl lunches, or just about anything else you can cook.

The spiralizer comes with five different blades, and each one produces a slightly different thickness, twist, or shred. The spiralizer holds tight to your countertop with suction-cup feet, cleans up in the dishwasher, and works beautifully to spiralize just about any fruit or veggie that’s firm, including zucchini, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, carrots, ginger, broccoli stalks, apples, pears, and cabbage.

Pros: A great way to add interest to vegetables and cut back on wheat and other carb consumption, includes three free recipe eBooks

Cons: You might eventually tire of the zoodle trend

Buy the Spiralizer 5-Blade Vegetable Slicer at Amazon for $24.98

A salad cutting bowl
EZ Life Products

The EZ Salad Cutting Bowl takes all the fussy chopping and slicing out of salad prep so you can eat salad more often.

If too many of your lunches come from vending machines or drive-thru burger joints, you can healthy-up your diet by choosing salad at least a couple times per week. The EZ Salad Cutting Bowl makes it easy to mix up a great salad quickly.

Just add your favorite mix of veggies to the EZ Salad Cutting Bowl – lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, or any others you like – rinse them right in the bowl, close the bowl’s base, turn, slice through the bowl’s slits, turn again, slice once more, and then open up the cutting bowl and enjoy your chopped salad. You can make fruit salad, as well.

The EZ Salad Cutting Bowl is made of sturdy, BPA-free plastic, and easily washes in the dishwasher.  

Pros: An easy way to make tasty salads or chop veggies for use in other dishes

Cons: You’ll need a knife long enough to reach across the entire bowl

Buy the EZ Salad Cutting Bowl on Amazon for $15.99

Some silicon baking sheets
Velasco

With the Velesco Silicone Baking Mats, stuck-on baked goods, meats, or vegetables are a thing of the past, and you’ll cut down on oils and fats, as well.

I use my aluminum baking sheets quite a bit, and not only for baking. Sheet-pan meals, heating up frozen foods, cooking bacon in the oven, and toasting seeds are all fairly common activities in my household. Scrubbing the sheets, however, was never much fun. It took me a while to discover the joys of silicone baking mats, but once I did, there was no turning back.

I’ve had my set of two Velesco Silicone Baking Mats for a year or so now, and despite frequent use, they are still unstained and have no signs of wear or tear. They fit nicely in my 16×12-inch baking sheets, and wash-up quickly with just a swirl in the sink and a little dishwashing soap.

I also use them to line my roasting pans; they fit nearly perfectly. No more cooking-oil sprays — which leave impossible-to-remove buildup on your cookware — no more soaking and scrubbing to remove cooked-on food, no more greasing the pan before I use it. Food also cooks evenly and removes easily from the food-grade silicone material.

The half-sheet baking mats are also perfect for rolling out cookie dough or kneading bread, rolling meatballs, or making candy. Go ahead and put the mats in your dishwasher, microwave, oven, or freezer and they will come out unscathed. They are also affordable when compared to the trendy Silpat brand.

Pros: No need for grease, butter, or oil on your baking sheets or roasting pans, and foods won’t stick, even if burned

Cons: None to speak of

Buy the Velasco Silicone Baking Mats on Amazon for $12.95 for a set of two

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

The best toaster ovens you can buyThe best makeup setting powder you can buyThe best kitchen accessories you can buy for cat lovers

SEE ALSO: The best lunch boxes you can buy

Read more: feedproxy.google.com

Government also wants to encourage people with rooftop panels to install batteries

Britain’s biggest energy companies will have to buy renewable energy from their own customers under new laws to be introduced this week.

Homeowners who install new rooftop solar panels from 1 January 2020 will be able to lower their bills by selling the energy they do not need to their supplier.

Continue reading…

Read more: theguardian.com

Energy firm says project will be big step towards continuous renewable power for UK

Scottish Power is to undertake the most ambitious battery power project in Europe in an attempt to unlock the potential of the UK’s wind and solar farms.

The company will connect an industrial-scale battery, the size of half a football pitch, to the Whitelee onshore windfarm early next year to capture more power from its 214 turbines.

Continue reading…

Read more: theguardian.com

Gardening can be a rewarding pastime and can bring many benefits. Whether veggies or flowers are your passion, the very act of creating a garden is immensely rewarding. This article can lend you a helping hand, and give you important pointers about gardening and growing things.

Shoveling clay is very difficult and lots of work because the clay is hard and sticks to the shovel, making it tough to handle. Get better results in clay by rubbing car wax or floor wax onto the shovel, then buff off and dig. The wax will prevent any rusting, and the shovel will cut through the soil with great ease.

Starting a garden which is pest-free is easy, if you have healthy soil. If you are producing healthy plants, they will be stronger and better able to resist bugs and diseases. Use a high-quality organic soil and as few chemicals as possible.

Flower Beds

Brighten up your flower beds with annuals and biennials. These usually grow quickly, and provide an easy-to-change solution to making your flower beds bright and beautiful. They allow you to select different flowers from one year or season to the next. In an area that is sunny, they make good plants to place in the gaps found between shrubs and perennials. Some flowers you can use are rudbekia, petunias, cosmos, marigolds, or sunflowers.

Soak your seeds in a dark spot during the overnight hours. Place a couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top. This hydrates your seeds and jump-starts their growth. This way, the seeds you have planted will have some chance of growing.

Asprin will actually help your plants out by killing diseases. Dissolve aspirin (1.5 pills per 2 gallons of water) in a bucket and administer to your plants. All you need to do is spray the plants with the solution in order to battle common ailments. Apply this solution to your plants every few weeks.

Indoor plants need an environment that is between 65 and 75 degrees. Your plants will not grow well if it is too cold. If your home isn’t that warm during in winter, try a heat lamp to use on your organic plants instead.

Spacing is essential when planting an organic garden. You must think of how much room the plants will take up as they grow, and it easy to underestimate this. You will also need to ensure that you allow ample space around full-grown plants for air circulation. Because of this, you should always take the time to ensure that there’s enough distance between all your seeds.

Do not let your horticulture chores add up. No matter what your schedule is like, you should be able to fit in small things that will help you avoid having an overwhelming amount of work all at once. If you put the dog outside, weed a few spots in the garden while your dog goes to the bathroom.

Laundry Basket

You may find an old plastic laundry basket ideal for gathering vegetables from your garden. This laundry basket can be used as a type of strainer for all your produce. Just rinse the produce right in the basket; the water will drain through the holes.

When planting seeds you should cover them with fine soil. Determine its depth by looking at the seed’s size and multiplying it by three. There are exceptions, however. Some types of seeds require more direct sunlight than others, and as such they should not be fully covered. Two common examples of this type of seed are ageratum and petunias. If you are unsure as to whether or not your seeds should be covered or not, try to read the package or find the answer online.

As you now realize, the rewards of horticulture can be great. The benefits from a garden range from being able to eat great home grown food, to having a good looking flower garden that adds to the aesthetics of your home. Apply these tips to make sure you do everything properly for better results.

In modern times, the daily implementation of green energy practices is on the rise. What does green energy mean? In simplistic terms, renewable energy and technology that is energy efficient are both considered to be green energy. These green energy sources can be put to use in nearly any house, and the following article will tell you how.

Shading windows from sunlight whelps to save energy. Another option is installing darkening shades. Doing these things will let you use less air conditioning in the summer. You will save energy, which will in turn save you substantial money.

Furnace filters should be replaced annually, and check them monthly for cleanliness. You should also install filters on any warm-air registers included with your furnace. These filters keep children’s toys, dirt or dust from clogging the heating ducts.

Keep covers on your windows when not in your home. This keeps your home cooler naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner and saving energy. Pay particular attention to covering the windows on the south side of your house. They typically admit the most sun. Try to cover the windows using coverings like roman shades, roller shades, and dark curtains.

Check out all the different resources your community has available for energy. Compare costs, and keep in mind that new legislation exists which will sometimes reward you for using renewable energy sources. It can benefit you to use natural gas instead of electricity, for example.

Save money and energy by only running your dishwasher with a full load of dishes. Don’t run it with only two or three dishes inside. Dishwashers can usually hold many dishes. Properly place your dishes in it so you can fit as many as possible.

Turn off appliances you aren’t using. Make sure that all lights are off when you exit a room, and also consider switching off the power for your television set, computer and stereo. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.

A solar energy array can be the cheapest way to getting your hot water. Consider a solar water heater. There are systems available that circulate the heat both directly and indirectly. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.

If you are building a new home or are in the market for a new water heater, consider a tankless model. While heaters that are tankless still need electricity or gas, they will not heat more water than you need, which is what a water tank heater does. Tankless heaters are available in models that supply the entire house or a single faucet with hot water.

An easy way to cut energy costs and go green is to dress warm. Light or heavy sweaters will both provide you with additional warmth of up to 4 degrees. It’s not necessary to dress good at home, so grab a sweater to save money.

Find out about federal and local rebates for updates about renewable energy for your home. Ask your utility company if they offer rebates for green energy upgrades. In some cases, there could be credits or tax deductions either from the federal or state government. These credits and rebates reduce the price you will pay to install green tech products at home.

If you aren’t sold on making a large green energy investment at home, then bring in a professional heating expert or plumber to take a look at your existing systems. They should be able to inform you about extra expenses you are paying for inefficient appliances, as well as the amount it would cost to upgrade to newer, energy-efficient models.

Make reminders for yourself. These reminders can help make sure you are doing all you can to conserve energy. You can reduce your energy use just by being aware of what you are spending. If you are specifically focusing on reducing your electricity and water consumption, then you are going to be more conscious of lights left on, or dripping taps.

Whenever Possible

Try to resort to your microwave whenever possible. When cooking, stoves and ovens often use lots of energy, usually more than is needed. Whenever possible, heat things in the microwave to cut energy costs.

A good, old common sense tip for saving energy is turning off the lights as you leave the room. Shutting off your lights when you leave a room is a simple act, but it will surprise you by the amount of energy it saves. You not only save a lot of energy but you save money, as well.

If it’s possible to do so, you should replace your old windows with the newer, more energy-efficient ones. You’ll not only see a reduction in your energy bill, but you will also reduce carbon dioxide, condensation on the inside of your windows and a reduction of outside noise in your home.

As you have seen, green energy is increasing in popularity. Not only is green energy clean and renewable, but it is also using the latest technology to make efficient use of any energy available. It’s simple to get started, so use what you’ve read here and start the change!

Do you want to begin an interior planning project as a way of beautifying your living space? Others have similar desires, and this information can aid you in considering various design aspects. Read on for tips and tricks for improving your home through interior design.

Keep in mind the usage of the room space when you are planning a design. For example, a kid’s room should be vibrant with color, as well as fitting their personality. These colors will clash in your library.

The artwork you choose in your interior planning can make or break a room. You may not have been putting a lot of thought into art, but one small piece of artwork can unify the look of a room. Choosing a nice painting offers you a good starting point.

A good thing to remember with interior planning is to put in unique colors and patterns. Patterns and textures attract the eye and can help enhance smooth surfaces, like glass and wood. Incorporate patterns that match the style of your room to create a beautiful appearance.

Keep your interior design project cost-effective by using high quality equivalents you purchase from mass merchants. Designer brand decor is very expensive, and there are always similar designs for less money available. In the end go with the cheapest price available so you can save a lot of money.

Do not overlook small details. You can obtain a very unique look using minor decor elements or using small items to create color patterns. For example, picking out thinks like fixtures, window treatments and cupboard knobs could really enhance the entire room.

One important aspect to any room is lighting. It sets the entire mood for the room. Bright light exudes positivity and can be a good selection for the bathroom or kitchen. That said, bright lights can create too much energy in ares where you want a calmer mood. Instead, install dimmer lights in bedrooms and in the living room to give it an entirely different mood.

Leopard Print

Some find it to be fun and exciting to bring new-age pieces into the interior planning scheme. Doing so can add style and a modern flair to any room. You do want to remember, though, that too much of something can be a bad thing. For instance, if your pillows have leopard print on them, you can get rid of them easily when you want something else. But a leopard print couch isn’t as simple to get rid of!

Hiring expensive experts or following the fancy designs from magazines is not needed to improve your home’s interior. With a little motivation, along with a desire to learn, you will be able to design the perfect space for your family and yourself. This article has a number of tips that will set you on the right road when considering interior decorating.

Many people want an organic garden, but never try it. The task may seem daunting and complicated to those unfamiliar with it. However, if you keep reading, you’ll find suggestions that can help simplify organic gardening and even make it fun.

Think about starting plants in pots, and then placing the seedlings in the garden later. This raises the chances of the plants growing until adulthood. You will then be able to lessen the time between planting your seeds. Your next crop of seedlings will be started and ready to be planted immediately after you remove your last crop from the garden.

Flower Beds

Brighten up your flower beds with annuals and biennials. Your flower beds will look different from one season to another. They are useful for filling gaps in between shrubs and perennials in sunny areas. Notable varieties include cosmos, rudbeckia, petunia, hollyhock, marigold and sunflower.

In a dark area, pre-soak your seeds overnight. Place your seeds in a container filled with water. This will keep your seeds hydrated and give you a little head start with your growing. This will also give your seeds a much better chance to survive and mature.

Don’t mow your grass too short. Cutting your grass at a taller height allows grass roots to grow deeper and stronger, which helps lessen the chance of your lawn drying out easily. The shorter the grass is, the shorter the roots are, which leads to a dry lawn.

Split up the irises. To increase the number that you have, you need to take all your overgrown clumps and split them up. After the foliage dies, pick up bulbous irises. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Cut rhizomes into pieces with a knife. Cut the center out of each rhizome but save the pieces. Each piece should have at least one strong offshoot. Replant immediately.

If you are a first time gardener, it is important that you follow all of the instructions on all of your tools and chemicals. If you fail to do this, you could cause yourself all sorts of injuries, the most common of which is irritated skin. Protect yourself and follow all instructions.

Learn the appropriate time to pick different vegetables. Most vegetables have a relatively small harvesting window when they will taste best. For instance, for the best flavor, zucchini and baby peas should be picked when they are young. At the opposite end of the spectrum, tomatoes are at their best when mature. So, learn about the ideal harvest time for your vegetables.

It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. It is important not to use harmful chemical agents, because you are growing produce that is intended to be eaten. If you remain vigilant, you can control your garden pest population. If you catch them early, you can take them off the plants by hand.

Protect Yourself

Always protect yourself from the sun when you are outdoors working in the garden; you can do this by wearing clothes that will shield you from the sun. Wear sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and sunblock. When you protect yourself against the sun’s rays, you are more likely to avoid both skin cancer and sunburn.

It is important to protect your knees when you are gardening. It is not good to bend from a standing position for a long period of time. To get down to plant level without pain, try kneeling instead. To protect your knees while gardening, you should get a pad to kneel on or at least use a folded up towel.

Perennial gardens should be prepared easily and quickly in the ground. Simply slice into the ground with a spade, flip the top layer of soil, and then cover it with several inches of wood chips. Give this area at least a few weeks, then you can dig into the area and plant the new perennials.

Organic horticulture may sometimes require more effort than resorting to chemicals, but the payoff in the end is well worth the work. Although chemical fertilizers and pesticides can offer impressive claims, choosing the organic route will always yield the best food in the end.

When you remember these suggestions from this article, you will not be as afraid to go about organic gardening. You will enjoy wholesome fruits and vegetables fresh from your chemical-free garden.

Due to the economic environment, green energy is getting less prominent than before. Not only is green energy a good way to preserve natural resources, but it can also save people tons of money. Continue reading to get some basic green energy tips.

If you are considering purchasing outdoor lighting look into solar lamps. This type of lamp is cost-effective and needs no power other than sunlight. This will save a lot of energy. It also means you don’t need to wire your outdoor lights.

Rather than using an air conditioner during the summer, wear clothes that are natural. Natural fibers like cotton can absorb moisture from your skin, helping you feel cooler. Light colors help you to feel cooler than darker or warmer colors.

Solar Panels

You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. Consider some things before you do this, as you will benefit from the thought process. Think about how much sun your house typically gets. If your home does not get a lot of sunlight, then solar panels will be pretty useless.

If possible, use cold water in your clothes washer. Most of the energy used to wash clothes is actually used in heating up the water. As long as your detergent is good, cold water washing can be just as effective as warm water. It is also better to clean a full load, not smaller loads.

When planning a home solar system, calculate the potential energy generation of the system using hours of sunshine in the winter. That way you won’t run out of energy during winter months, and you will have more than enough in the summer. An even better benefit is that you can sell your energy back to the grid in the sunniest of times!

Take time out to properly inspect your refrigerator. Refrigerators take lots of energy to run, so it’s crucial to make sure it is running effectively. Be sure that you’re regularly cleaning the dust that builds up near the heating coils. Make sure door seals are clean and tight.

Replace your tank-style water heater with a green, tankless model. Tankless heaters still use electricity or gas to provide hot water, but they only heat the water you actually need. You can get a tankless water heater to heat your entire home’s water supply or you can get a smaller one that heats only water that comes out of a particular faucet.

Renewable Energy

Pay attention to local and federal rebates for renewable energy updates on your home. In a few cases, local utility companies tend to offer rebates for expenses associated to upgrades. If not, there might be tax credits or deductions available from the federal or state government. These rebates, credits, and other allowances can make it much more affordable to install renewable energy equipment on your property.

Professionals can help to analyze your home and give you tips on making it more green. 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.

Switch as much of your correspondence as possible to email. Use paper as little as you can. This helps to lower the energy costs of businesses as they communicate, and you can save energy as well. Not to mention, it protects the environment for everyone.

Avoid cranking the heat in your home unless it’s absolutely necessary. Wear sweatpants and a sweater if you are chilly. When your heat is running it uses more energy than necessary.

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 ovens reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees, while using no outside energy besides solar.

If you are someone who is seeking out ways to live green so you can help save the planet’s energy, there’s a lot you can do. You may not be able to spend a lot of money going green, but you can start by cleaning furnace filters each month and setting heat at 60 degrees when not at home. Keep the water heater temperature around 120 degrees and save energy costs. Even small steps that you take can add up to a big difference!

In order to cut down on fuel usage, you should consider using carpooling not only for work, but for other activities too. If you have children organize carpooling with other parents in your neighborhood. If you live near another family and friends, then synchronize your grocery shopping days and take turns being the driver.

In addition to saving you money, the advice from this article will help to protect the environment. If you put these ideas to use, you’ll find that using green energy is easy, efficient and heart-warming.