Just the thought of making changes to a home in order to make it more green can be overwhelming to many homeowners. It is confusing when trying to decide on a starting point and what are the best ways to benefit yourself and your environment. Read the article below for tips to help you live a greener life inside your own walls.
Every year, replace your furnace’s filters, and every month, see if they require a cleaning. You should also install filters on any warm-air registers included with your furnace. This will help keep debris or dirt from clogging vents and reducing their overall efficiency.
Wash clothing in cold water. Almost 90 percent of the consumed energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating up the water. Washing clothes in cold water can be just as effective as a warm cycle, especially with today’s cold water detergents. Don’t forget to wait until you have a full load of laundry to wash; that is the energy efficient way.
Try solar water heaters instead of traditional ones. If your location does not get too cold, purchase a system that puts the water in a solar heater prior to coming to your home. But, be sure to keep a regular water heater for a backup should the sun not come out or for times that you need large amounts of hot water.
Find out more about the different energy solutions in your community. Check the cost of running your home using these utilities, taking into consideration any recent legislation regarding energy costs. 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.
When not using things, turn them off. When an area of the home is not being used, make sure that all TVs, lights and computers are turned off. A power strip offers a handy way to shut down multiple devices at once, and it prevents passive electrical use due to standby modes.
Wait until your dishwasher’s full before running it. The dishwasher uses the same energy when full that it uses when empty, but you’ll have to run it less often. Try using the energy-saving air-drying setting on your dishwasher.
Always be consistent in maintaining your fridge. Because refrigerators use so much energy, it really pays to keep them working as efficiently as possible. Vacuum the coils frequently to remove the dust that can build up and reduce efficiency. Check the door seal for dirt, debris and leaks.
Storm Windows
Help to control the air flow in your own home by installing a storm door and storm windows too. Storm windows are good at cutting down on the cool air that tries to get in. Homes equipped with storm windows and doors can see an increase in energy efficiency of up to 45 percent.
Have the bulk of your correspondence sent to your email. In other words, go paperless as much as possible. Going paperless helps the environment by limiting the amount of deforestation as well as the energy costs associated with paper communications. Not to mention, it protects the environment for everyone.
Unless you’re freezing to death, don’t turn the heat all the way up. When the temperature drops, reach for a sweater instead of the thermostat. Turning the heat all the way up will use a lot of unneeded energy.
United States
Use LED lights on your Christmas tree or when decorating your home for Christmas. Research was performed by the United States. The Department of Energy has shown that the United States could conserve over 2 billion kWh of electricity if all households switched light types. That amount of electricity could power 200,000 homes for an entire year. You can at least look forward to saving money on your energy bills!
Each home has a unique layout, and each has its own area. Because of these differences, not every home is well-suited for all types of green technology. Some tips are universal and work for everyone, and some are not. Seek out the advice that will benefit your household, and then implement those strategies in your home.
A lot of people wish to figure out DIY Solar Cells, but have a little trouble fully understanding them. Fortunately for you, this article has given you the information that you need to get started doing just that. Now, all you have to do is use this article’s tips.
