Have you been wanting you go green but are not sure how to go about it? Does it seem too pricey or hard to do? Give up the past and head towards the future, use the tips from this article to help you improve your home going forward.
You can make a difference and save energy simply by taking steps to use less energy every day. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use. Television sets and lights should never be left on when not in use. This is a simple tip that can help you save money, too.
Solar panels can be easily installed on your home and are used to collect energy from the sun for use in your home. However, before installing them, there are some things to keep in mind. A major factor in choosing if you can use a solar system is the amount of sunlight your home receives on average. If you home is shaded, the amount of energy collected from solar panels will be greatly reduced.
Be a smarter energy consumer by unplugging your electronic device chargers when they are not in use. Chargers for cell phones, mp3 players, laptops and other devices draw some power when they are plugged in, regardless of whether you are actually charging the device.
Every year, replace your furnace’s filters, and every month, see if they require a cleaning. It is also a good idea to install filters on warm-air registers. This will keep everything out of the air ducts, keeping your energy efficiency high.
Whenever possible, use cold water to wash your clothing. Almost 90% of the energy you use when you do laundry is due to heating water. Cold water will do the job just as well; all you need is an effective clothes washing detergent. In addition, remember that a washing machine will be most energy efficient when it is full.
Storm Windows
To help prevent drafts, install storm doors and storm windows. Storm doors and windows stop drafts from letting in so much cold air. Your home’s energy efficiency will increase by as much as 45% if you install storm windows and doors!
Use a laptop computer instead of desktop, which uses much more energy. It can mean a savings of up to seventy-five percent on the electricity if you are a frequent Internet user or if you use word-processing software. Laptops are also portable which makes them much more functional and handy in times of need.
Opt for emails over paper whenever possible; get on no-mail lists for catalogs and junk mail. Basically, this means using as little paper as possible. Not only will the business save on the cost of paper, but you will be saving energy from the production of that paper as well. An added bonus is that everyone benefits by the protection of our environment.
Whenever possible, keep the heat in your home turned down. If it’s a bit chilly, try wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants. You use a lot of wasted energy when you have heat levels turned up too high.
Less Energy
Get appliances that have an Energy Star rating. The Energy Star rated appliance is guaranteed to use appreciably less energy than the older non-rated appliance. 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!
An on-demand (tankless) water heater is very green. Older water heaters are always running and always heating water whether it is needed or not, which is a waste of energy. An on-demand water heater instantly heats water when necessary and saves energy.
What must you do in your home to use greener energy sources? You have the necessary information, now it’s time to put it to use in your life. Start now, and you will be surprised by the benefits you will reap!
Many people are interested in DIY Solar Cells, but are unsure of how to learn more. Luckily, you have found an article that has good information to get you started. It is up to you to apply the ideas you have reviewed.
