Green energy technology benefits your home as well as the environment. There are some easy ways to reduce your energy use and save money by being more efficient in your home. This article provides useful tips on home-energy conservation.
Installing solar panels is a great way to save electricity. However, there are several things to consider before making any decisions. The most important consideration is how much your home is exposed to sunlight. If you live in a shady place, or a location with a cloudy climate, solar isn’t the choice for you.
Do you own a farm? If you own your farm property, you could allow an energy company to rent a small plot of your land, so they can install an energy-generating wind turbine. You and the neighbors can benefit from this free installation and energy which won’t take up much space.
Wash clothes with cold water, as much as you can. Almost 90% of the power you use to do laundry is simply used to heat the water. If you are using good quality washing detergent, cold water is effective. It is also better to clean a full load, not smaller loads.
Use window treatments to shade the inside of your home when you aren’t home. They will help to keep the temperature and the energy consumption of the house down when the house is vacant. Try to close all your window coverings, but it is especially important to cover any south-facing windows. Thermally insulated black-out curtains are the best option, but blinds and shades can also work.
Solar water heaters are an inexpensive and efficient way to heat your home’s water. Using a solar water heater to warm your water with the energy of the sun works to save money and energy. Don’t get rid of your conventional water heater though; you may need it if it’s cloudy when you’re ready to use hot water.
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Be sure to look at the legislation and incentives available for using green utilities. For example, it might be wise to use natural gas instead of electric heat or water from the well rather than city water.
Maintain your refrigerator. The refrigerator hogs energy, so it should work well. Regularly make sure the heating coils are dust-free. Make sure door seals are clean and tight.
Electric heaters are an energy hog and should be avoided as much as possible in the winter. They are not environmentally friendly. Instead, start wearing warmer clothing indoors and use a pellet stove or fireplace to keep main living areas heated. This is good for your health as well as your electric bill. Breathing cooler air at night helps keep your respiratory system healthy; you’ll avoid drying out your airways.
Consider using a solar oven to bake with. You can make these with simple items, such as boxes, an old window, and some foil for reflection. These ovens are no slouches. They can be heated up to 300 degrees, consume no energy, and are simple to construct.
Keep up with your watt usage. There are gadgets out there that will help show you what in your house is using the most energy. Look for brands like Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt. If you connect an appliance to either of these devices, it can calculate the energy savings you could realize over a given period of time if you switched to green power, from an hour to a year. This will make you realize what a given appliance costs you over the long run.
As you should now see, updating your home with green technology isn’t necessarily going to break the bank. Often, making a few changes to your home can actually save money in electricity costs. Apply the tips laid out here and share them, so you can start to see improvements to the environment.
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