Improving your home by installing solar panels can help save both energy and money, as you may be aware. There are several good reasons to consider solar panels for your home, from eco-friendliness to government incentives. This article has many benefits on the use of solar panels.
Government grants are available to help consumers invest in renewable energies. To find out which programs are available in your area contact your local government. You may qualify for a free installation or a tax deduction.
Are you living on a farm? If so, you can rent some property to energy companies for installing wind turbines. You and the neighbors can relish in the free energy and installation, if it doesn’t require too much space.
Keep your home better insulated and control warm and cool air better by installing storm windows and doors. These kinds of doors and windows reduces the amount of cold air that comes into the home. Storm doors and windows can help save as much as 45 percent on energy costs.
Do some research and learn about passive and active solar powers. Passive solar power doesn’t need expensive cells in order to store power, although active is stored for later use. Active power needs solar panels installed, cells, and mechanical systems. Passive power, instead, just stores the energy gotten from the sun inside your home.
Energy Efficiency
There are a great deal of products you can buy to increase the energy efficiency of your home. One of the most popular products to increase the energy efficiency of your home are double-pane windows that have received a high energy star rating. You cut your cooling and heating costs when you use these items as well.
Keep your heat on at a moderate level. Don’t increase it unless it is a necessity. If you feel a small chill, instead of turning up the heat, put on a sweatshirt or sweatpants. Having the heat up high wastes a lot of energy.
Make use of a solar-powered oven for baking. A solar oven is very easy to make. All you need is a window, a piece of foil and a sturdy box. These ovens reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees, while using no outside energy besides solar.
If you are one of the many people who desire to live a greener life when it comes to saving our planet’s energy, there is much you can do. Perhaps you don’t have money to spend on making your home more green, but it is possible to start by maintaining smaller things, like clean filters and regulated temperatures. Lowering the temperature on your water heater to 120 can also help reduce costs. Every little thing you do helps!
Less Energy
Replace old, energy-hogging appliances with new versions that are Energy Star rated. The Energy Star rated appliance is guaranteed to use appreciably less energy than the older non-rated appliance. For refrigerators and freezers, the rating promises 20% less energy used, for dishwashers 40% less energy used, and for washing machines at least 50% less energy used!
Use your microwave oven whenever you can instead of the stove and oven. Any time you cook something on the stove or in the oven it tends to use up a ton of energy. Any time you could perform a task in the microwave without altering the results, such as boiling water, do so. You can conserve a significant amount of energy this way.
Try to buy some bamboo models when you want to buy wood products. Bamboo is a green alternative to wood products and very strong. It replenishes itself rapidly, unlike most woods, and can be used for flooring, furniture and nearly any other wood product. Because bamboo is so renewable, the need for recycling is lessened, which saves energy.
Ask your electric company for tips and advice on how to cut your electric bill. Utility companies provide some powerful tools online to measure and control your electricity usage. Make sure you investigate all programs and rebates offered if you buy energy-efficient items, from large appliances to light bulbs.
Energy Star
The easiest way to find these appliances is to look on them for an Energy Star badge. Appliances that designate themselves as being ENERGY STAR compliant are those that have met guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy plus the EPA. ENERGY STAR products are useful for tax credits.
As you can probably see, solar panels can provide many benefits, including energy and cost savings. They’re easy to buy, install, and are durable also. Adding solar panels to your home not only modernizes it, but makes it more environmentally friendly, as well.