Just thinking about making green energy changes to a home can be stressful to some homeowners. Find out where you should begin and compare your different options before investing in anything. For solutions to the problems potentially posed by going green with your household energy use, check out the following helpful tips.
Heat your pools, hot tubs and showers more efficiently with a solar hot water system. Using gas or electricity to heat water isn’t efficient. However, solar water heaters use the sun to make water comfortable and reduce energy consumption. While some upgrades cost more initially, they can qualify you for deductions on your tax return for using green energy.
One way to conserve energy is to make sure your windows aren’t exposed to direct sunlight. Use curtains or blinds as an alternative. If you do both of these it will cool your house down so you won’t have to use as much air conditioning in the summer. You will save energy, as well as money.
When you can, wash your clothes using cold water. Nearly 90% of the energy that is consumed when you wash your clothes is taken up heating the water. As long as you have reliable clothes washing detergent, using cold water is just as effective. Another great tip is to always fill up the washer with a full load so that you’re being as efficient as possible.
When using a dishwasher to do the dishes, don’t let it run unless it’s all the way full. An equal amount of water and energy is used, whether it is full or not. When you do operate your dishwasher, be sure to make use of the energy-saving feature, which air-dries your dishes.
No two homes contain both the same layout and location. Because of these differences, not every home is well-suited for all types of green technology. While some might be effective choices in every home, others will not. Choose the tips that are right for your particular situation, and implement them when you can.
