Nowadays, people are becoming more aware that it is important to protect the environment. A great way to care for the environment while saving yourself money is to incorporate green energy technology at home. Read on for good information about utilizing green energy resources at home.
Use a solar-solar powered system to heat water. Solar water heaters tap into the abundant and free energy offered by the sun. Water heated by other methods, like natural gas, propane, or electricity, is not an efficient method. By doing certain upgrades to your home, you can often earn extra incentives and even cut backs on your energy bill.
Natural Fabrics
Wear natural fabrics instead of running your air conditioner during summer months. Natural fabrics, including cotton, cause moisture to move away from the body, which means it stays cooler. Wear lighter colors since warmer ones can make you warm and cause you to rely on the A/C.
Biodiesel is a great alternative to the standard oil used to heat a home. Some current systems can use forms of biodiesel without the need for modifications. When you use biodiesel it burns a lot cleaner than conventional petroleum, which reduces the impact your home has on energy during the colder months of the year.
Keep covers on your windows when not in your home. These help your home remain cool and keep your energy bill down when you are not there. More often than not, south-facing windows will let in the most sun due to their positioning. Therefore, it is especially important to use heavy window coverings on these windows.
Research different sources of green energy available to your community. Be sure to look at the legislation and incentives available for using green utilities. It may be beneficial to switch from electric heat to natural gas heat, or from city water to well water, for example.
Solar Panels
Research solar panels to see if an active or passive set-up is right for your needs. Active systems store the solar energy for use later, while passive systems just use the sun’s heat as energy. Active solar powers requires solar panels that need installations as well as mechanical systems and cells. Passive systems use the sun’s rays to store energy withing the walls of your home and are significantly cheaper.
Use a laptop computer instead of desktop, which uses much more energy. By doing this you could be saving around 75% off your electric bill, especially if you constantly use the Internet or type up papers. Because laptops are portable, you can also enjoy the convenience of taking your computer anywhere.
Watch watt usage carefully. Gadgets such as the Watt Minder or the Kill-A-Watt will help you find out which of your appliances are hogging energy. When you plug an electrical appliance into the monitor, it displays how much energy it requires each hour, month, or year. This can show what your appliance is costing you.
Try using LED lights as opposed to conventional ones for the next holiday season. A U.S. Department of Energy study shows that people waste a lot of energy on traditional Christmas lights. A study by the Department of Energy needs everyone to make this change. That is enough electricity to power 200 thousand homes for a whole year. At least, you can save money on your electricity!
Less Energy
Replace your old appliances for newer ones that have an Energy Star rating. ENERGY STAR ratings mean that the appliance has met standards of the EPA and is especially crafted to use less energy than older models. 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!
Make use of the microwave when possible to cut down on energy usage. The stove and oven use a lot more energy to cook foods. So, when you’re microwaving things, remember you are saving on energy.
The number of lights that are left on, or appliances that are run half full is astounding. If everyone did this, a lot of energy and money could be saved. Think before you act, and turn things off when not using them.
No doubt, you read this article because you feel green energy is important. Make your home more energy efficient and minimize your carbon footprint by applying the ideas in this article. The financial savings alone is enough to make you want to go green!
Most people want to know about The Power Efficiency Guide, but do not always know how to go about it on there own. Luckily, you have found an article that has good information to get you started. Now implement the advice you’ve just read.
