Perhaps you’ve heard a lot about green energy and its accompanying technology, and you are interested in how you can incorporate it into your life. If you are seeking information on what green energy is all about, then you have found the right place. Read this article to learn how you can use green energy in your home.
Solar powered outdoor lighting is a wonderful enhancement to your outdoor living areas. Not only are they a reasonable purchase price, but they do not require electricity to run. This, of course, will save you a lot of money. It will also mean you can avoid installing underground wiring.
There are many government incentive programs you can take advantage of when it comes to green energy. Ask your local authorities what kinds of programs are available in your area. Depending on your local energy programs, you could end up getting a renewable energy system set up for your home for free.
Solar panels that collect solar energy to be used are easy to have installed at your home. But, you must think about some things prior to doing this. How much sun is your house getting on average? If you live somewhere where the sun doesn’t shine often, or in a shady location, you won’t get as much benefit from solar power.
Be a smarter energy consumer by unplugging your electronic device chargers when they are not in use. Even if you are not charging your laptop, cell phone or mp3 player, just having it plugged in uses energy.
Check whether your furnace filters need to be replaced each month. Make sure that you actually replace these filters at least once each year. Warm-air registers can also benefit from filters. This will help ensure debris doesn’t enter heating ducts, thereby reducing your efficiency.
Biodiesel fuel might be an option if your current heat source is fuel oil. A lot of the existing systems can be modified with minimal parts or alterations. Biodiesel is cleaner to burn than petroleum, making it more efficient to use in the wintertime.
Be sure to cover your windows with drapes or blinds when not at home. This will keep the house cool and reduce energy costs. Generally, your home’s south-facing walls and windows receive the most sun exposure. Make sure that all the windows are covered with dark curtains, blinds, roman shades, or whatever shade you choose.
You can consider getting solar water heaters to heat your water. Best for locations with a warmer climate, a solar water heater uses the sun’s energy to heat water that circulates through it. Though you can use this system, it’s best to have a regular water heater for backup purposes, just in case there is a day with little sunlight or more water usage than normal.
Carpooling doesn’t have to be just for work. If you have kids, set up a carpool system in your neighborhood and trade off days with other parents. You could also start doing your grocery shopping with neighbors or friends and switch on and off with who does the driving.
Switching your boiler is a great energy saving tip. The majority of older boilers weren’t built to save energy, but newer models are much more energy efficient. They create less carbon dioxide, something that can greatly be good for anyone’s health, and it also cuts your electricity bill significantly.
Energy Star
Trade in your old major appliances for new ones with the Energy Star rating. An appliance that has Energy Star uses less energy than an appliance that doesn’t have it. Energy Star ratings promise 40% less energy for dishwashers and 50% less for washing machines.
Use your microwave oven whenever you can instead of the stove and oven. When cooking, stoves and ovens often use lots of energy, usually more than is needed. So, by microwaving instead, you save a lot of energy.
The venerable habit of turning of unnecessary lights when leaving a room is still very effective. If you establish a habit of extinguishing your lights, you will be amazed at the amount of energy you can save in the long run. An additional advantage is lower electric bills.
Get a water-saving toilet. Some studies show that flushing the toilet accounts for half the water used in a typical home. Older models used 5 or more gallons of water to flush; today’s water saving models uses a little over 1.5 gallons per flush. That is a 70 percent water savings.
Replace your windows with more energy-efficient ones. These have many benefits, such as reduced spending on energy bills, a quieter home, and less condensation on the interior of your windows.
In your most active rooms, you should put motion detection lights. These sensors automatically shut off the lights to vacant rooms, which saves both energy and money. Make sure your garage has outdoor lighting, as well.
Check your refrigerator and freezer seal on a reguar basis to make sure you are not wasting energy. A break in the seal can use an unnecessary usage of power, which is a waste of energy as well as money. To test the seal, put paper in the crack of your door and test how easily it slides out. If it slides out easily, it is time to replace your seal.
Programmable thermostats can help you significantly reduce your energy usage. You can program these thermostats differently depending on the season of the year. Additionally, you can set them to adjust and control the temperatures during daytime and nighttime periods.
Make your home greener by prioritizing the responsible usage of lighting. When the days are longer, leave your lights off as long as possible. Try using dimmers to reduce the usage of lights.
Since you now have a better idea of how to use different green technology in your household to your advantage, you can slowly make efforts to change your home. Using the advice from this article will assist you in making your home energy efficient. Not only will the environment thank you, but your wallet will too.
