
It doesn’t take all that much time and money to go green these days. It can be as easy and cheap as making a few home modifications that save electricity. Use the tips in this article to start living green and help the environment.
Just start using less energy every day. For example, when an appliance is not in use unplug it. Turn off your TV and lights once you leave a room. This is an excellent way of saving yourself some money.
Lower the cost of heating your indoor water, pools and hot tubs by switching to solar water heating systems. Using natural gas or electricity is not as efficient as solar power, and solar water heaters can keep the water temperature steady. In the United States there are many tax deductions for energy efficient green products.
There are government grants available for investing in renewable energy. Ask your local authorities what kinds of programs are available in your area. You may qualify for free wind or solar installation, or you may find that you can deduct some of your expenses on your taxes.
Use window treatments to shade the inside of your home when you aren’t home. The result will be a cooler house because the window’s admit less heat. Generally, your home’s south-facing walls and windows receive the most sun exposure. Try to cover the windows using coverings like roman shades, roller shades, and dark curtains.
A solar water heater may be a viable option in your home. 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. It’s a good idea to use a supplemental water heater, however, if you cannot count on constant sunshine or if your hot water consumption is high.
Check what other energy sources are available in your neighborhood. Be sure to look at the legislation and incentives available for using green utilities. For example, you might see a savings if you switch from electricity to natural gas, or even switch from electricity to solar or wind power.
Maintaining your refrigerator is an easy way to save energy. Because refrigerators use so much energy, it really pays to keep them working as efficiently as possible. Regularly make sure the heating coils are dust-free. You should also be sure that the door has a clean and tight seal.
Upgrading your water heater to a tankless style saves a lot of energy. These still use gas and electricity to heat water, but they heat only what you use instead of continuously heating the whole tank. Tankless heaters can supply the entire home or certain faucets.
Rather than using an energy-hogging desktop computer, switch to a laptop. You can reduce your energy use by three-quarters if you use the internet a lot or do a lot of word processing. The other benefit to using laptop over a desktop is that it is portable, so it can be taken anywhere!
Monitor how many watts you’re using. You can do this by using Kill-A-Watt or Watt Minder gadgets. These will help you find where your energy is being consumed. 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. It gives concrete information about how much energy the appliance is wasting.
There are a lot of things you can do if you want reduce your environmental footprint on the planet. You might not have the capacity to invest all of the money to go green immediately, but one can clean furnace filters and adjust the heat at home to be more green. Reduce your water heater to 120 degrees, this can save you a lot of money. Every little bit helps!
Everyone can benefit somehow from green energy use in their homes. With just a few minor alterations to your daily routine, you can realize significant savings on your energy bill.