Reduce Your Monthly Bills With These Green Energy Tips

By tony / February 21, 2018

TIP! Keeping your windows shaded to keep sunlight out of the house will greatly conserve energy. Shading the windows with curtains and blinds will keep out the sun in summer and keep the heat from escaping in winter.

In today’s world, people are realizing more and more how important it is to take care of the beautiful environment they live in. If you apply green energy use in your home, you can take care of both your wallet and the environment. The tips below will give you some great ideas on how you can make green energy work for your home.

TIP! The government has grants available to those who are willing to invest in alternative renewable energies. Talk to your local government and figure out what programs are in the area.

If you’re designing any kind of outdoor lighting, you may want to think about installing solar-powered lamps. They are not only affordable, but they do not have to be hooked up to any power source, needing only good access to sunlight. This will save a lot of energy. As an added benefit, you are spared the trouble of running an outdoor wiring system.

TIP! Save electricity while becoming a more conscientious energy consumer by unplugging the chargers for all your electronic gadgets when they aren’t in use. Charging devices for several common types of electronics, including laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players all draw “phantom power” if you keep them plugged in while they are idle.

There are many government incentive programs you can take advantage of when it comes to green energy. Check with the local government and find out about any possible programs you may be eligible for. You may qualify to have wind or solar power installed at no cost to you. At a minimum they may allow you to deduct the charges from your taxes.

Wind Turbine

TIP! Check out all the different resources your community has available for energy. Be sure to look at the legislation and incentives available for using green utilities.

Are you a farmer? Farms are the perfect place to put a wind turbine. If you don’t have a farm, you might be able to rent from someone. You will benefit from the wind turbine’s free energy and it will take up minimal space.

TIP! Rather than using a dryer, dry your clothes outside, as long as the weather permits. Your laundry will smell fantastic after a day in the sun.

When you are away from home, use window coverings. They will help to keep the temperature and the energy consumption of the house down when the house is vacant. Pay particular attention to covering the windows on the south side of your house. They typically admit the most sun. Think about covering all of your windows with different types of shades and curtains.

TIP! Hot water can be obtained in a low cost, environmentally friendly manner through solar energy. Consider investing in a hot-water system that runs off of solar energy.

One thing you might consider is heating your water with solar water heaters. If your location does not get too cold, purchase a system that puts the water in a solar heater prior to coming to your home. However, it’s best to keep a traditional heater for times when you need a lot of heated water, or if the sun does not come out.

TIP! When determining the economical impact of a PV solar system, be sure to run a calculation using the hours of winter sunlight. You will avoid unpleasant surprises during winter, and you will also ensure your energy needs are met in summer.

Turn off appliances you aren’t using. Any rooms in the home that are vacant should not have any electronics or lights left on. When you can, plug your electronics into a power strip and when you are not using it, turn it off. Energy is still being used when something is in standby mode.

TIP! Batteries need to be situated closely to the cells in solar power systems. This can stop power loss in the cable.

It is important that if you take advantage of a dishwasher, that you only use it when you have a full load. It consumes the exact same amounts of electricity and water even if it’s not full. When you do operate your dishwasher, be sure to make use of the energy-saving feature, which air-dries your dishes.

TIP! Take time to make sure to properly maintain the fridge. The refrigerator hogs energy, so it should work well.

Wearing warmer clothes helps slash energy costs as you go green. By simply putting on a sweater, you can improve your heated temperature by between 2 to 4 degrees. There is no need to be fashionable while at home watching TV, so put on some layers and put some money back in your pocket!

Active Power

TIP! Keep written track to remind yourself of your green energy goals, and look for progress in your energy consumption by comparing current bills to the previous year’s. Simply being conscious of how much you spend on energy will save you a ton.

Understand the difference between passive and active solar power. Active power is power that is stored to be used for a later time, while passive power doesn’t require power storage cells. In order to use active power, you will need to install a few things, including solar cells, mechanical systems, and most importantly, solar panels. Passive power uses the simple sun to generate thermal energy to heat your house.

TIP! Replacing an old boiler can save energy. Most oil boilers weren’t made to consider saving energy, whereas new boilers are made to be a lot more energy efficient.

Pay attention to any federal or local rebates offered for making alternative-energy updates to your home. There are times when your utility company can offer discounts and rebates for your upgrade costs. Also look into tax deductions offered by the government that may apply to your green energy technology. These credits and rebates can cut costs greatly when installing green technology in your dwelling.

TIP! When you are shopping for items made of wood, consider things made from bamboo. Although bamboo is technically a grass, it has more strength than most commercial woods.

If you are apprehensive about what green changes to make to your home, there are many green energy consultants available today. 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.

TIP! An easy to get started in energy efficiency is to ask your electric company for help. You can look on the company’s website for tool that track your energy consumption and tips for saving energy.

Keep an eye on the wattage you are using. Get a watt monitor such as the Watt Minder or the Kill-A-Watt to find out which appliances use too much energy. You can plug in various devices into these devices and see how much energy that item uses for periods of time including a hour, month, and even a year. This lets you know how much it costs to operate an appliance.

TIP! Even though appliances that are energy efficient cost more than those that are not, they are worth it because they will save you money over the long term. You usually have to pay a bit more upfront for green technologies, but you will save far more than the difference over time with reduced energy costs.

If you want to live a life that is greener, there are many things that can be done to save the planet’s energy. For example, cleaning your furnace filters every month and turning down the heat when you aren’t at home will greatly increase the efficiency of your furnace. Setting the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees will help reduce energy costs, too. Even small steps that you take can add up to a big difference!

TIP! One simple way to recognize products and appliances that are energy efficient is to locate those with the ENERGY STAR designation. Appliances with an ENERGY STAR designation meet the guidelines of the U.

You can use biofuels as home heating fuels. These fuels use fats, wood or oil to create energy. If you have a propane furnace, sometimes a technician can make modifications to enable you to use a blend of different fuels. This fuel would contain anywhere from 20-99% biodiesel. Before you try to use this kind of fuel inside your house, just make sure you speak to a professional.

TIP! Install solar panels on your roof for a greener, more environmentally friendly home. This can be a costly option in the beginning but it will pay great economic and environmental dividends over time.

If it is one of your priorities to treat the environment better you can do so by utilizing some of these tips, which will increase the energy efficiency of your home. The money you save alone makes it worth it.