Leading a greener lifestyle doesn’t mean spending a lot more time and money. There are a few simple changes you can make to your home that will drastically reduce your utility bills while helping the environment. Learn how to harness green energy to help the environment and yourself by reading this article.
Using less energy daily means large energy and financial savings. When you aren’t using an appliance, unplug it. When you aren’t using your television, computer equipment or lights, don’t forget to turn them off. This simple tip will save you money as well.
If you’re designing any kind of outdoor lighting, you may want to think about installing solar-powered lamps. They don’t use any energy other than solar energy and they are cost effective. This, of course, will save you a lot of money. It also means you don’t need hard wired outdoor lights.
Government grants help customers purchase these eco-friendly technologies. To find out which programs are available in your area contact your local government. Some areas provide rebates for green energy product installation, or provide tax relief as an incentive.
When you can, wash your laundry in cold water. Having heated water in your washer can use up to nine-tenths of the energy required to run a washing machine. If your detergent is of good quality, you should have no problems using cold water. Also, make sure your load is a full one so you do not waste energy washing several small loads.
If you use oil to heat your home, see if biofuel can be used instead. Many heating systems can be switched over to run on biodiesel without needing extra modifications or parts. Biodiesel is great because it is more efficient and produces less pollution that standard oil, which will reduce your carbon footprint.
If you aren’t home, use a window covering. This will keep the house cool and reduce energy costs. South facing windows will receive the most sun, and therefore heat. Cover all of these windows with curtains, blinds or roller shades.
When not using things, turn them off. When you leave a room, shut off the lights, TV, computer, game systems, etc. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.
Some people deny that global warming exists, but even these people can still personally benefit from green energy technology. It saves plenty of money on the electric bill, by making just a few small changes to your daily life, such as shutting off the lights when not in the room.
