Using environmentally friendly energy is a great way to improve your home life and helps save the environment, too. There are some easy ways to reduce your energy use and save money by being more efficient in your home. Read through this article for great tips on how you can use green energy technology in your own home.
You can make a difference and save energy simply by taking steps to use less energy every day. If there is an appliance you aren’t using, then unplug it. Always turn off the television and lights when you are not using them. This is an excellent way of saving yourself some money.
Switch to solar heating systems for water to lower your cost of indoor water. Traditional gas and electricity are not that efficient, but solar-powered water heaters glean the sun’s natural energy to maintain even temperatures. Although these upgrades could cost a lot, they also might qualify for energy tax deductions.
Are you living on a farm? You could rent a small portion of your property to an energy company willing to install a wind turbine. You and your neighbors will benefit from free energy and this installation will not take a lot of space.
Replace and clean furnace filters yearly, and check them monthly. Warm-air registers can also benefit from filters. This will help keep debris or dirt from clogging vents and reducing their overall efficiency.
Use cold water for laundry, whenever you can. When you heat up water, you consume much more energy as opposed to using colder water. Most good quality laundry detergents work just as well in cold water. Also, don’t wash your clothes until you can completely fill the washer, as this saves energy over time.
Use windows covering for when you’re not home. This will keep the house cool and reduce energy costs. Generally, the south-facing windows get the most sun because of their position. Cover all of these windows with curtains, blinds or roller shades.
Investigate all of the energy sources your community has to offer. Check how much these utilities cost and any tax breaks or laws before making a decision. It can benefit you to use natural gas instead of electricity, for example.
Never run a dishwasher that is partly empty. Your dishwasher consumes the same energy and water, even if it is half full. When you run a dishwasher, use the ‘energy-saver’ setting so dishes can air-dry.
Solar energy can provide cheap hot water. Install a water heating system that uses solar power. Indirect or direct circulation systems are both available. The best option for you is the indirect one if you might have frozen pipes.
Consider how many hours of sunlight you can expect in the winter as you plan your solar system, so that you know how much energy you can expect it to generate. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, while leaving you safely ahead of your needs during the summer. You can actually get money back from your utility company for any energy your generate if you’re on the net usage plan.
Hire professionals to talk to you about installing new systems. They can tell you if your appliances are running efficiently, and if there are changes you can make. They may also be able to offer estimates as to what it would cost to replace or upgrade your existing systems.
Turn the heat down in your house. If you’re cold, put on a warm sweatshirt and some cozy socks. Higher levels of heat use a lot of excess energy!
Keep up with your watt usage. Choose an energy monitor like the Kill-A-Watt or the Watt Minder to help you determine which devices and appliances consume the most energy. Plug the appliance into the device, and it can tell you the amount of energy it uses within an hour, month, or even a year. This gives you a much better idea of the real costs associated with each appliance you own.
Use LED lights on your Christmas tree or when decorating your home for Christmas. Research was performed by the United States. If everyone were to switch to LED lights, the country as a whole would save 2 billion kwh per year. That’s enough to power a quarter of a million houses for a year! An additional benefit to using LED lights is the savings you will receive on your electric bill.
As previously stated, going green doesn’t need to be costly or time-consuming. A few minor changes can help you save a lot of money on your bills. When attempting to go green, recall the tips in the article above and share them with others to increase the impact on the environment.
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