If the subject of green energy is not one that you are familiar with, then this article will educate you on the impact this type of living can have on the environment and you. The tips below will explain how you can use green energy in your home.
Dry clothes on a clothelines during the summer. The sun can give clothing an incredible smell. They will feel and smell fresher than machine-dried clothes. Also, your utility bills will be greatly decreased.
When you are installing a solar energy system, you want to be sure the batteries you will be using to store the solar power are situated as close to the solar cells as possible. This avoids power loss in the cable. It also reduces shading of the solar shells. Shading reduces solar panel energy generation.
Take the time to evaluate your watt usage. Gadgets like the Kill-A-Watt and Watt Minder can help you determine exactly which appliances account for the majority of your energy usage. Plug these gadgets into an appliance to find out how much energy is used in an hour, a month or a year. You can get a real idea of what your appliance is costing you and the environment.
If you are trying to achieve a greener lifestyle, there are many options for you. Many of these options will not cost you money, but will instead save you money, like cleaning your furnace filter monthly and turning down your thermostat when you are leaving your home. Reducing the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees could save you a lot of money as well. Little things like this add up!
Less Energy
Energy Star appliances help save energy. Energy Star appliances are guaranteed to use less energy than those made previously. Refrigerators and freezers use about 20 percent less energy, while the energy that washing machines use is cut in half.
A microwave is a more energy efficient appliance than a stove, so consider using it more often. The stove and oven use a lot more energy to cook foods. Take advantage of the microwave whenever you can to cut down on your overall energy consumption.
If you want to save energy, do the obvious, well-known thing: turn off lights every time you leave the room. Get yourself into the habif of always turning lights off and you can save a lot of energy. You also have the added benefit of saving money on your power bill.
Water-saving toilets can get you started on a greener lifestyle. Toilets account for approximately 50 percent of water usage in the average home. A traditional toilet uses about five gallons of water each time it is flushed, compared to a water-conserving toilet, which uses just 1.6 gallons. This is a 70% water savings.
Try to buy some bamboo models when you want to buy wood products. Bamboo is very green and strong and is technically considered a grass. It is a fast grower, and can be made into many different products like cutting boards to flooring, which you can purchase. This will reduce energy consumption for the production and recycling of manufacturing items.
Energy Star
You should find an Energy Star logo or seal right on the product, so be sure to look for it. Appliances that designate themselves as being ENERGY STAR compliant are those that have met guidelines set by the U.S.
Department of Energy and those of the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to this, only ENERGY STAR appliances can be used for tax rebates.
By weatherizing your home, you can improve its energy efficiency. If you seal ducts, install energy saving windows and add insulation, you will be able to cut down on the energy your home uses. Also, with these changes, your monthly energy bill will be significantly reduced!
Heat each room of your home separately to save money each month. In order to do this, you will need to add a central control to your heating system that will allow you to select the temperature for each room. This is a wonderful solution for larger homes.
Check your refrigerator and freezer seal on a reguar basis to make sure you are not wasting energy. If the seal is loose or broken, your refrigerator will run more often than it should, which will run up your energy bill and harm the environment. You can determine if you need to replace your seal by inserting one sheet of paper in the door jam. If it slides out too easily, your seal is not up to par.
Don’t neglect your ceiling fans in the winter. With a clockwise rotation, they can be used to circulate the air and help the warm air come down. This will help the room feel warmer and the heater will not be used as much. This will save energy so that makes running the fans worth it.
Green Energy
This advice on how to use green energy will soon yield great benefits to you. Green energy will help the environment as well as your budget. Once you use these tips, being green will seem like a piece of cake.