It can be simpler than you thought to cut down on the resources you use in your home. If you make some small changes, and even a big one or two, you can lower your environmental impact and save a lot of money. Get great ideas on how to start as you read the article below.
Use a solar water heater to keep your pools, tubs and plumbing full of piping hot, but cheap, water. Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat water resulting in energy savings. Although some of these systems cost more initially, many qualify for tax credits or deductions.
Wear lightweight, natural fabric during the summer instead of running your air conditioner. Cotton and similar fabrics will draw moisture from your skin, so you will stay cool. If you wear lighter colors, you will also feel cooler than if you wore black or another dark color.
Do you own a farm? If you do happen to own some farmland, try renting some of the land to a power company that specializes in wind energy solutions. You will benefit from the wind turbine’s free energy and it will take up minimal space.
Consider installing a solar water heating system. If you live where freezing temperatures aren’t prevalent, you can purchase a system that can circulate water via a solar heater prior to being pumped to your home. Don’t get rid of your conventional water heater though; you may need it if it’s cloudy when you’re ready to use hot water.
During the summer, you should try drying your clothes out in the sun instead of using a dryer. The sun gives your clothes a great smell. They will smell fresher than if you used the dryer. You can also save money on your energy bills.
Turn off appliances if you are not using them. When you are ready to leave a room, go around and turn off appliances such as computers, televisions, and most importantly, the overhead light. Use power strips for home electronics. As well, turn this off when you’re not using your electronics. Products in standby mode still waste power.
When putting in a new solar energy system, the batteries that store the power should be kept really close together to the cells. This procedure guards against power loss as energy travels through the cable. It will also minimize the possibility of a cable shading out the cells and lowering their generation capability.
Take time to make sure to properly maintain the fridge. Your fridge consumes a ton of energy, so make sure it’s in good shape. Be sure that you’re regularly cleaning the dust that builds up near the heating coils. Also, make sure that the seal around the door is clean and tight.
Storm Windows
Storm doors and storm windows help to better control air flow in the home. Storm windows are good at cutting down on the cool air that tries to get in. Energy efficiency increases by 45% in houses that contain stormed windows and doors, which could save you lots of money when it comes to electricity.
If you can afford it, invest in a laptop rather than using a desktop as they tend to use more energy. Making this switch can reduce your power consumption by up to 75%. This is especially true if you are an Internet addict or do heavy word processing. Additionally, you can carry a laptop with you, so it’s possible to use it wherever you want.
Monitor your electricity consumption watt by watt. 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. Plug your appliance or gadget into the watt-checking device, and it will tell you how much the unit consumes in energy in one hour, month or year. With that information, you will be able to calculate how much that appliance costs to operate.
Think about the ideas provided in this article, and try to come up with a way to implement them in your home. Your energy bills will go down and the good you are doing for your environment will increase. Take small steps and soon you will be entirely relying on green energies!
