Many new options exist in the world of green energy, so it might be simpler than you thought to make some changes in your own home. Reduce the carbon footprint of your home and save money through big or small changes to your energy sources. The article below will give you some ideas and suggestions that will help you get started to becoming a greener consumer.
Clean filters or replace them to ensure your furnace is appropriating at prime efficiency. Also, put filters on vents that dispense warm air. This stops debris from blocking heating ducts.
Fuel Oil
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, a technician can give you information about changing over to biodiesel. You might even find that you can switch your system to partial biodiesel without having to purchase parts or hire a contractor to perform modifications. Bio-diesel fuels burn more efficiently and cleaner than conventional petroleum- based fuel oil.
When you calculate the solar panel needs of your home, figure out the hours of sun you get in the winter. This prevents any unanticipated effects from a winter months, and it keeps you ahead of the game for summer months. You can actually get money back from your utility company for any energy your generate if you’re on the net usage plan.
Trade out your older, tank-style water heater for a tankless model that is more green. While they do require energy to heat the water, they require only a small amount of energy to heat a smaller amount of water. Tankless heaters can supply the entire home or certain faucets.
Choose a laptop instead of a desktop PC to save energy. These portable machines will reduce your electrical use by 75% while you do everyday tasks. Since laptops are portable, you can use them anywhere.
If you don’t know about investing a lot into green energy in your home, hire pros, such as heating experts and plumbers, to give you an assessment of your current 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.
Don’t turn up the heat very high. If it’s chilly, put on warmer clothes. Higher levels of heat use a lot of excess energy!
If you would like to make your life greener like many people do, there are plenty of steps you can take. You may not be able to spend a lot of money going green, but you can start by cleaning furnace filters each month and setting heat at 60 degrees when not at home. Setting your water heater to 120 F will also be an energy saver. No matter how small, everything helps!
Keep a record of your energy efficiency goals. Each month, check your utility bills to check your year-over-year progress with regard to saving energy. Simply being conscious of how much you spend on energy will save you a ton. You will probably make newer, greener habits such as turning off appliances when not in use if you approach energy reduction consciously.
You should heat your home with biofuel. This type of fuel is usually made with a combination of animal fat, vegetable oil and wood. If you are currently using propane to heat your home, adjustments can be made to your system that will allow you to switch to using a blend of fuels. This would be about 20-99 percent biodiesel. Just be sure to consult with a professional before attempting to use this fuel in your home.
One way to use less energy in the kitchen is to use a microwave oven. Heating up your oven will use far more energy than a quick trip through the microwave. Any time you could perform a task in the microwave without altering the results, such as boiling water, do so. You can conserve a significant amount of energy this way.
Install a toilet that uses less water. Experts estimate that almost half of a home’s use of water is flushed. With the older model of toilets, the amount of water consumed each time they are flushed is 5 gallons; however, the newer, water-saving models consume only 1.6 gallons per flush, which will yield a saving of approximately 70 percent in your annual water consumption.
Take the ideas you get from this guide and look for ways to incorporate these tips into your lifestyle. You will save money on your energy bills and help environmental conservation efforts by doing so. Just take one step at a time. Soon you’ll be running a much greener home than you ever expected.
At the start, you might be overwhelmed by the volume of information on The Power Efficiency Guide. Though there is so much to learn, you will benefit in the long run. Just use what you’ve read here and you’ll be on your way to meeting your goals.
