Switching to green technology is often easy and affordable. No matter whether you make a few minor alterations or do something more significant, you can have a positive effect on the environment. The next few paragraphs will give you information on green energy sources that might work for you.
If you’re designing any kind of outdoor lighting, you may want to think about installing solar-powered lamps. They are inexpensive and don’t require electricity. This will end up saving you a lot of energy. This saves you money, and it also means you don’t need to wire the outdoor lights.
Instead of blasting the air conditioner to keep cool in summer, wear clothes made from naturally cooling fabrics. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw the moisture further from your skin and let it stay cooler. Lighter colors also make you feel cooler.
Renewable Energy
Take advantage of government grants if you plan to invest in renewable energy sources. Check with the local government and find out about any possible programs you may be eligible for. Depending on your local energy programs, you could end up getting a renewable energy system set up for your home for free.
Instead of using fuel oil to heat your home, try to make a switch to biodiesel. There are many systems that can switch to biodiesel with needing significant modification. Biodiesel burns more cleanly and will improve your carbon footprint.
Don’t waste money or energy by running a half-full load of dishes. Don’t run it with only two or three dishes inside. With a little effort, you will be amazed by how much you can fit in one load. Just make sure to align the dishes in an orderly manner to maximize the available space.
Search for available rebates when you use renewable energy. There are times when your utility company can offer discounts and rebates for your upgrade costs. The federal government, or your city or state government, may also offer tax breaks. These tax savings can reduce the net cost of installing alternative energy technology considerably.
Hiring professionals, such as a heating professional or plumber, to come to your home can lay any doubts you have about green energy to rest. They will be able to tell you how much money you are losing on inefficient appliances, and they can also give you an accurate estimate of what it will cost to upgrade or replace your systems.
Whenever possible, choose to get your communications through email. In other words, choose to go paperless in any way you can. Reducing your consumption of paper saves energy on production costs, along with the costs of shredding documents in your home. Most importantly, it helps to protect the environment.
A solar oven is a fun and effective way to reduce your energy needs for cooking. You can make these with boxes, old windows or old pieces of foil that can be used for reflection. The oven can heat up to well over 300 degrees using no electricity!
Biofuels can be used to heat your home. This type of fuel is usually made with a combination of animal fat, vegetable oil and wood. If you have a propane furnace, you may be able to have a professional retrofit your furnace to work with biofuel blend. This is between 20 to 99% biodiesel. Make sure you consult an energy professional before using biofuels in your home.
Save money and fuel by carpooling for errands as well as work and school. If you are a parent, carpool with other adults. You can also schedule grocery shopping and other errands with friends that live near you.
Switch out an old boiler. Old boiler units were not designed with energy conservation in mind, yet new boilers are typically more efficient. They are healthier, as they emit less carbon dioxide, and you will reduce your energy bill as well.
Microwave Whenever
Try to resort to your microwave whenever possible. Any time you use the oven or stove, you’re using a lot of energy. Take advantage of the microwave whenever you can to cut down on your overall energy consumption.
A good green energy tool is a tankless water heater. Old fashioned heaters run constantly, heating the water even when not needed, therefore wasting energy. On-demand models provide hot water instantly when necessary, instead of continuously throughout the day, saving you money and energy.
Proper weatherization is a great way to make your home much more energy efficient, even if you are on a budget. Sealing ducts, using energy-efficient windows, and adding insulation can reduce energy consumption. On top of that, you won’t have to spend as much money on energy!
It’s a great idea to seal the freezer and fridge so you don’t waste energy. Your refrigerator needs more energy to maintain its temperature if the seal is broken. This wastes energy and raises your energy bills. An easy way to check to see if your seal is intact is to insert a piece of paper in the door of your refrigerator. If the paper can easily slide out, your seal needs to be replaced.
Being aware of the amount of lights that are used in the home can make a difference when embracing green energy. Try to wait as long as you can before you turn on lights in the summer months when the sun is out longer. Install dimmers to reduce the amount of energy lights require, and use sensors or timers to prevent lights from staying on when no one is in the room.
A great way to be green and save some money at the same time is to lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. This can cut your monthly electric bill by up to 10 percent for a four person family.
Going green is not very complicated. As this article has shown, there are plenty of easy ways to make your life a little bit greener. Start with of few of these simple tips today. You can have some great results with green energy, even though it doesn’t take much work from you.
