It is actually pretty easy to reduce the amount of energy and resources your home needs. With some small changes you can decrease your carbon footprint and save money. Continue on for some great ideas on how you can go about doing this.
Heat your pools, hot tubs and showers more efficiently with a solar hot water system. Solar water heaters use the sun’s heat to warm water rather than using natural gas or electricity for heat. While a few of the upgrades are costlier up front, they might be eligible for tax deductions or green energy tax credits.
The are several simple techniques to conserve energy. Unplug alliances when they are not being used. Be diligent about switching off the television or lighting if you aren’t using them. This helps to save money without much effort.
Cut down on air conditioning by wearing natural fibers in the summer. By wearing natural fabrics, such as cotton, you will keep moisture away from your skin and help it stay cooler. Wear lighter colors since warmer ones can make you warm and cause you to rely on the A/C.
Installing solar panels is a great way to save electricity. But before you do this, there are a few things you must take into account. One thing to factor into your considerations is the amount of sun your house actually gets over the year. You can’t take as much advantage of solar energy if your house gets a lot of shade rather than sun.
You might be able to get a government grant to finance your green energy installation. Ask at your local municipality office to research what types of programs might be available to you. You may qualify to have wind or solar power installed at no cost to you. At a minimum they may allow you to deduct the charges from your taxes.
Try solar water heaters instead of traditional ones. If you live in a sunny climate, you can use a solar water heater year-round. You should still retain traditional water heaters for backup when the sun doesn’t show, or if you use a lot of heated water.
It is fairly simple to have solar panels installed to tap into solar energy to use in your home. But before you do this, there are a few things you must take into account. A big consideration is how much sunlight does your home typically receive? If you live in an area that gets few sunny days, or your property is full of shade trees and tall bushes, you will have trouble gaining enough solar power for your needs.
During the summer, you should try drying your clothes out in the sun instead of using a dryer. The sun can give clothing an incredible smell. They will be fresher than clothes dried in the dryer. You will also save on your utilities bills by line drying your laundry.
When not being used, turn things off. When you are ready to leave a room, go around and turn off appliances such as computers, televisions, and most importantly, the overhead light. If you run your electronics through a power strip, you can turn everything off in that room with one switch.
If you aren’t using something, turn it off. Any rooms in the home that are vacant should not have any electronics or lights left on. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.
Using solar energy is one good way to heat water. Install a water heating system that uses solar power. Your options include direct circulation systems and indirect ones. If your pipes freeze when it’s cold, the best option is the indirect system.
When installing solar panels, ensure that the energy-storing batteries are installed as close to the cells as possible. This can stop power loss in the cable. It will also minimize the possibility of a cable shading out the cells and lowering their generation capability.
When a home has stormed windows and doors, air flows better. Storm windows and doors prevent cold air drafts filtering into openings. Storm doors and windows can increase a home’s energy efficiency by up to 45%, which can have great impacts on utility bills.
It’s important to maintain your refrigerator properly. Refrigerators use a large amount of electricity, and keeping it in good condition ensures this energy footprint is as low as it can be. Make a regular habit of removing dust from the refrigerator’s heating coils. Check frequently to ensure that the door seals tightly.
You can get rid of your old, tank style water heater and switch it out with a new, greener, tankless one. Tankless water heaters still require power to heat the water, but they heat only the water that you want to use, rather than heating a tank of water that you’re not always using. There are various options when it comes to tankless water heaters, from heating enough water for your entire home to ones that only serve one faucet.
A laptop is actually a great alternative for consuming less energy as opposed to using a desktop. Making this switch can reduce your power consumption by up to 75%. This is especially true if you are an Internet addict or do heavy word processing. Since laptops are portable, you can use them anywhere.
Be sure to learn more about passive and active solar power. Passive solar power doesn’t require the costly power-storage cells that active power does. To use active power it requires mechanical systems, solar panels and cells. Passive power uses the sun for thermal energy in the home.
Pay attention to any federal or local rebates offered for making alternative-energy updates to your home. Sometimes your utility company may offer additional rebates which will help pay for the expense of the systems. Other times, you may be eligible for credits or tax deductions from the federal or state government. Rebates and tax credits can make it a lot cheaper to upgrade your home, to make it more energy efficient.
A good way to save on your electric bill is to switch to a laptop computer rather than using a desktop. By doing this you could be saving around 75% off your electric bill, especially if you constantly use the Internet or type up papers. The laptop is also mobile, so you can take it with you everywhere.
Solar Oven
If you don’t know what changes to make, consider having a heating expert or plumber come to your home and give you a list of changes you can make to cut your energy costs. They’ll tell you the amount you’re losing due to inefficiency, and they will provide estimates on the cost to upgrade.
Try using a solar oven for your baking needs. A solar oven can be made by using an old window, a box and for reflection, a piece of foil. Solar ovens can be heated over 300 degrees and only use the sun for energy.
Monitor how many watts you’re using. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. Plug your appliances in to these devices to find out what amount of energy is required each year, month or hour to run it. This gives you a much better idea of the real costs associated with each appliance you own.
You can use biofuel to heat your house. These fuels are made up of animal or vegetable fats, oils and wood. If you have a propane furnace, a professional can usually make changes that allow you to use this blend of fuels. You would want to use roughly 20-99 percent bio-fuel, depending on your house size and what a professional thinks is right. Always speak with a professional who will guide you in how to properly use this type of fuel.
Keep written track to remind yourself of your green energy goals, and look for progress in your energy consumption by comparing current bills to the previous year’s. You can reduce your energy use just by being aware of what you are spending. For instance, reducing your electricity or water usage will get you into the habit of turning off appliance and lights when not used.
A great way to save energy is to switch your boiler. Most older boilers weren’t made with energy conservation in mind, but newer ones are often fairly 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.
Carpooling is a great way to get to many places; not only work. If you have children organize carpooling with other parents in your neighborhood. If you have friends or family nearby, consider combining grocery trips together, alternating driving duties.
As odd as it sounds, the majority of people do not bother to disconnect or turn off lights and electronics when they are not being used. If you make this a habit, your energy bills could be greatly reduced. Think about what you do before you do it, and turn off those lights and appliances when they are not in use.
Use your microwave whenever you can reasonably use it. Any time you cook something on the stove or in the oven it tends to use up a ton of energy. Take advantage of the microwave when you can.
When purchasing anything made from wood, look for bamboo options. Bamboo is very green and strong and is technically considered a grass. It replenishes itself rapidly, unlike most woods, and can be used for flooring, furniture and nearly any other wood product. This saves energy when it comes to the production and recycling of manufacturing products.
Green electronics may seem expensive in the beginning; however, the amount of energy saved will pay off over the life of the equipment. Even though green technology may be costlier, it pays off in the long run when you see cheaper utility bills. It will also have a positive impact on the environment.
Find some way to incorporate what you’ve just learned into your life. You will see a significant decrease in your energy bills while benefiting and helping the environment. Before long, you will have one of the greenest homes around!
Energy efficient appliances will feature the bright Energy Star sticker. When you see any appliance that has ENERGY STAR on it, then that means it meets guidelines approved by the U.S.
Department of Energy and those of the Environmental Protection Agency. In order to receive a tax rebate, the product must meet these guidelines.
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