Keeping a home that is green is a great way to ensure the environment is protected, while also helping to lower your own energy costs. You do not have to invest into things like electric cars to help the environment. Read on for tips on how to make your house energy-efficient.
Cut down on air conditioning by wearing natural fibers in the summer. Natural fibers like cotton can absorb moisture from your skin, helping you feel cooler. Light colors help you to feel cooler than darker or warmer colors.
Think about getting solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. These lamps are very cheap, as they require no external power source, just the sun. This doesn’t merely save energy. You also don’t need to hang lights or wires outdoors.
Do some research to gain information on the energy sources available to your area. Check the cost of running your home using these utilities, taking into consideration any recent legislation regarding energy costs. You may choose, for example, to go from electric to natural gas for heating, or using a well instead of city water.
The U.S. Government makes grant funds available as an incentive for consumers to start using green energy. Check with the local government and see what programs are available to you. You may qualify for a free installation or a tax deduction.
A green tankless model of water heater can replace a regular tank styled water heater. Instead of keeping a whole tank of water hot at all times, tankless models only heat the water you are actually going to use. Tankless heaters are available in models that supply the entire house or a single faucet with hot water.
You can save electricity by unplugging 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.
If you are on a mission to go green, start by keeping electric heaters off or on a very low setting during winter months. Use a fireplace in place of the heater and wear warm layers of clothing. Keep in mind that cooler air is better for your breathing while you sleep as it prevents your airways from becoming dry.
When a home has windows and doors stormed air flow is actually better in that household. Storm’s windows and doors cut down on the cold air that drafts can let in. Storm windows and doors boosts energy efficiency as much as 45%, which can cut electricity costs.
Find out more about active and passive forms of solar power. Passive solar power is power on demand and does not require cells for power storage. Active solar power has plenty of power storing ability so you will have energy ready anytime you may need it. Active systems are what you would normally think of when you think of solar–PV cells, mechanical parts, and storage devices. Passive solar power is more basic and simply uses your home in its existing state as heat storage.
Upgrading your water heater to a tankless style saves a lot of energy. While they do require energy to heat the water, they require only a small amount of energy to heat a smaller amount of water. There are various options when it comes to tankless water heaters, from heating enough water for your entire home to ones that only serve one faucet.
Whenever possible, keep the heat in your home turned down. If it’s chilly, put on warmer clothes. This saves you from using energy that would be required to sustain heat at that high level.
Buy energy saving materials to help save energy in your home. Certain green items, such as eco-friendly windows and doors and double glazed windows, cut down on energy you need to keep your home going efficiently. By installing these products, your home is sealed tighter, and you use less energy to heat and cool your home.
Consider using a solar oven to bake with. Use common household items to make a solar oven. Put a piece of an old window into a box and place foil inside the box to reflect the sun’s rays. The temperature in these ovens can heat up to 300 degrees, they can be put together in a few minutes, and the only energy they use is the sun.
Use a laptop computer instead of a desktop, which uses 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. The laptop is also mobile, so you can take it with you everywhere.
Watch watt usage carefully. If you do not know the formula to figure out the energy each appliance uses, there are tools like a Kill-A-Watt that can give you the information instantly. Plug your appliances into these devices and they can let you know how much energy they use in an hour, a month, or a year. You can then use this information to find out how much the appliance really costs to run.
Keep an eye on the wattage you are using. Gadgets like the Kill-A-Watt and Watt Minder can help you determine exactly which appliances account for the majority of your energy usage. When you plug an electrical appliance into the monitor, it displays how much energy it requires each hour, month, or year. You can learn how much your appliances are costing you.
When decorating for the holidays you should forgo traditional lights and get LED lights instead. Research was performed by the United States. Department of Energy stated that Americans could collectively reduce their energy consumption by over 2 billion kW/h if they all changed over to LED lights. This is enough energy to power 20,000 houses in one year. Saving money on your electric bill is the least that can happen.
One of the oldest tips in the book is to make sure that you turn off all electronics and lights when you leave any room to save energy. Just turning off lights helps to conserve quite a bit of energy. You also will be saving money when it comes to your power bill.
Considering the purchase of a new boiler could save you money in the long run. Older boilers are not as energy efficient as new ones because people didn’t worry about the environment when they were made. Newer models have multiple benefits; not only can they lower your energy bills, but they often create a lower amount of carbon dioxide, which can will be lot better for your family’s health.
Spending a little more on green appliances and electronics generally pays off over time. Green technology may be more expensive at first, but your utility bills will be reduced. A bonus is that you will be helping to protect the environment.
An often-repeated, yet useful tip for anyone who wants to start saving energy today, is to flip off the light when they leave the room. You would be surprised how much energy you could end up saving over time if you get into the habit of turning off your lights. You will, of course, save a lot of money on your energy bill, as well.
If possible, switch the old windows in your home with newer, energy-efficient ones. There are so many benefits in having new windows, including the money you will save on energy, the reduction of drafts and the fact that your home will no longer be damaged from condensation.
As odd as it sounds, the majority of people do not bother to disconnect or turn off lights and electronics when they are not being used. Most people could probably save a ton on utility bills by getting in this habit. Think about what you do before you do it, and turn off those lights and appliances when they are not in use.
Solar Panels
All energy efficient products will include the Energy Star designation and logo. The ENERGY STAR seal indicates appliances that meet the guidelines which have been established by the U.S. Department of Energy in addition to the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to this, only ENERGY STAR appliances can be used for tax rebates.
If you are planning to make your home a greener one, consider adding solar panels to your roof. This can be a costly option in the beginning but it will pay great economic and environmental dividends over time. Once you have the solar panels hooked up to your home’s energy system, your solar energy will be free, and can even earn you money if you sell the surplus to your local energy company.
Weatherize your home for more energy efficiency. If you seal ducts and drafts around your windows or doors, then you will reduce the energy you need to run your house. You may also see real savings on your energy bill!
Use your ceiling fan in the winter. If you make them rotate clockwise, they push air down which warms up the room. The fans use much less electricity than your heater or furnace, which will cut your electric bill.
Don’t neglect your ceiling fans in the winter. Run fans clockwise to help circulate warm air throughout the house and reduce the need to use external heaters. Although these fans use a little bit of electricity, you’ll save a ton because you won’t have to use your furnace as much.
If you want a greener home, then choose more responsibility for your light usage. During months that are sunnier, don’t use your lights until later in the evening. Installing dimmers on your light switches is another great way to reduce the amount of energy in use.
There are many ways you can conserve energy while doing laundry. Most dryers have a moisture setting that will shut your dryer off when the clothes are dry. Use high spin speeds to cut the moisture in laundry; that will cut drying time as well. Always make sure that the dryer filters are clean and that there are no clogs in the vent.
Ice Makers
If you could not get an energy source that is renewable, such as solar energy to use for your whole house, try to see if you could get power installed to power a portion of your home. You can use solar panels for hot water, for example.
One way that an energy-conscious consumer can conserve energy is making his own ice. Automated ice makers are an energy hog and can be inefficient. The seals for automatic ice makers are prone to leakage which can increase the temperature of the freezer. Therefore, one way to save energy is to make your own ice.
One smart way to save money and be green is to keep your water heater temperature at 120 degrees maximum. Doing so can save you up to 10 percent each month on your power bill, and it will provide you with an adequate amount of hot water.
Green energy is huge right now, and it is one of the few sectors that is actually creating jobs. If you are looking to make changes in your own career, the time could never be better. Discover more about the many green energy options that are available today, such as wind power and solar power.
Bottled water is something you’re going to have to stop using. Bottled water is rarely anything more than tap water, takes a great deal of energy to process and creates a ton of waste. If you don’t want to drink your tap water, buy a re-usable metal bottle for your water and buy a filter which can be replaced every couple of months.
To save energy costs, use a dehumidifier. Humid air will feel warmer! Don’t run straight for the air conditioning unit, which sucks energy like a vampire. Instead, dry the air out with a dehumidifier first. You might be able to get away without using the air conditioner.
Programmable thermostats are interesting high tech ways to harness green energy. These thermostats change the temperature according to what you are doing in your home. For instance, if you are gone or sleeping, your home will become cooler to save energy. The newer models can be programed with multiple start and stop times for various days during the week to conserve power.
Energy Efficient
Investing in a washing machine that is front loading is a great way to go green. These washers do not use as much water as top loaders, and they do a better job of cleaning clothing. This will help you save money and reduce energy usage.
Changing your furnace filter, using light bulbs which are energy efficient and using an energy efficient thermostat are all easy steps you can take to reduce energy use. Be an example for family members so others will see how simple it is to live a greener life! Keep these tips in mind and start putting them to use right away.
When it is time to upgrade your furnace and air conditioning system, consider switching to a geothermal unit. This type of temperature control system works by running water and refrigerant through underground pipes. These pipes run into a machine, either heating or cooling your home. HVAC systems are more efficient due to underground temperature being more steady than above ground temperature.
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