A great way to make sure the environment is protected, while slashing energy costs, is to use green energy in your home. This doesn’t mean you must purchase an electric car. Read this guide for simple ways on how to make your house energy efficient, while on any type of budget.
Keep your windows shaded when trying to conserve energy. Another option is installing darkening shades. Doing these things will let you use less air conditioning in the summer. You will save money and energy at the same time.
If you plan to purchase lighting for your deck or patio, you should give solar-powered lamps a try. These lamps aren’t costly and do not need additional power sources other than direct sun exposure. This will save you a ton of energy. As an added benefit, you are spared the trouble of running an outdoor wiring system.
Do your laundry using cold water, if you can. When you heat up water, you consume much more energy as opposed to using colder water. Good detergents wash clothes even in cold water. Don’t forget to wait until you have a full load of laundry to wash; that is the energy efficient way.
Switch to a solar water heater to heat your pools, showers, hot tubs and kitchen faucets to save money. Both natural gas and electricity are inefficient heating methods, while solar water heaters use the sun to constantly heat your water. These types of upgrades, while more costly at first, may qualify you for a green energy deduction on your taxes.
Instead of using the dryer, dry your laundry outdoors when weather permits. The sun will make your clothing smell great. They will smell a lot fresher than if you were to use a dryer. Additionally, you will see a noticeable decrease in your utility bills.
In order to conserve energy, try keeping the windows shaded from the sunlight. Additionally, curtains and blinds can enhance the energy-saving effect you achieve. When you do these things, you then make your house cooler and reduce the amount of air conditioning you use during the summer. You’ll save money as well as energy.
It’s important to maintain your refrigerator properly. Since the refrigerator is an appliance that consumes a lot of energy, it is important to keep it in top-working order. Regularly make sure the heating coils are dust-free. Additionally, you should ensure that the door seal is both tight and free of dirt.
Natural Fabrics
To save money on heating your water, buy a tankless system. Tankless water heaters do require energy for operation, but since they heat water on demand, power is not wasted by keeping a full tank hot 24/7. You can purchase a tankless heater for a faucet or your whole home.
Use natural fabrics in the summer instead of turning up the AC. By wearing natural fabrics, such as cotton, you will keep moisture away from your skin and help it stay cooler. You may feel warmer when you wear warm-colored clothing, so wear light-colored clothing in order to use the air conditioner less.
Switch as much of your correspondence as possible to email. Specifically, go paperless whenever you can. This helps businesses you deal with reduce their energy expenses, and it helps you reduce energy expenses, as well. In addition, it will help protect the environment for all.
You can consider getting solar water heaters to heat your water. If you live in a region that is not at risk for freezing, it is possible to install a system that pumps water into a solar heater, then pumps it into your house. However, you should still have a traditional water heater as backup for times when the sun won’t come out or if you’re going to be using a lot of hot water.
If you are serious about becoming more green, you should keep track of your energy usage from month-to-month and then year-to-year. Increasing your consciousness of your energy consumption can help you cut back. For instance, should you consciously decide to decrease your electricity or water use, you are also likelier to turn off appliances or unused lights.
Take time to maintain your fridge properly. Since refrigerators are one of the high-consumption appliances, it’s crucial that you keep it running efficiently. Regularly make sure the heating coils are dust-free. Inspect the door’s seal for tightness and cleanliness.
The next time you decorate your home or tree for the holiday season, use LED lights instead of standard light strands. Over two billion kilowatt power hours can be saved! The U.S. would be able to save Two billion kilo watt hours of energy if everyone did this change. This amount could actually power around 200,000 homes for a whole year. Saving money on your electric bill is the least that can happen.
Use electric heating sparingly in the winter. Dress more warmly when around the house. Wear slippers and a heavy top, and light up your fireplace or pellet stove for increased warmth at low cost. Cool air while sleeping is better for your breathing.
A good energy saving tip is to switch your boiler. Older boilers weren’t built to be energy efficient, and they’re costing you an arm and a leg compared to a newer unit. They not only produce less carbon dioxide, which is good for your health, but they can significantly cut your energy bill.
Don’t use a lot of heat during the winter if it’s not absolutely necessary. If your home is cold, wear warmer clothing, like a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Higher levels of heat use a lot of excess energy!
Consider changing out your old windows and replacing them with newer, more energy-efficient models. Not only will you reduce your energy bills, you will enjoy a much quieter home. You will also have a lot less condensation, resulting in less mold growth and water damage.
A solar oven can be made to assist you in your baking needs. These can even be made yourself using items such as a box, a discarded window, and some tin foil. The oven can heat up to well over 300 degrees using no electricity!
A simple way to identify appliances that are energy efficient is to search for an ENERGY STAR logo. ENERGY STAR appliances are designed to follow guidelines from the U.S. Department of Energy plus those of the Environmental Protection Agency. In many cases, you won’t be able to get a tax rebate from any appliance that doesn’t feature these logos.
A good green energy tip while cooking at home is to use a microwave whenever you can. Any time you cook something on the stove or in the oven it tends to use up a ton of energy. When you can cook food in your microwave, do it and cut down on your energy usage.
Heat each room separately to save money on heat. Get yourself a floor heating system that has one main board that lets you review all areas, and choose specific temperatures for each one. If you live in a larger home, this is an effective solution.
Many people don’t turn off appliances when not using them. Just by simply being aware of things that are on, and making an effort to turn things off when not in use, you can substantially save on your energy bills. Before doing something, be sure to remember to turn these things off.
You can also save money by installing a thermostat that is programmable. These are a great way to regulate the temperature in your home no matter the season. You are also able to program these thermostats to regulate day and night hours temperatures.
Remember that buying green technology is an investment that will pay off later. Oftentimes, green technologies are a bit more expensive than their traditional counterpart; however, investing in green electronics and appliances will pay off with savings from decreased energy consumption. You will also enjoy knowing that you are having a positive impact on the environment.
To save on electricity costs and usage, be stingy about light usage. Don’t turn on the lights until a certain time, during the brighter months. Dimmers along with timers and light sensors can be used to lessen the amount of light you use when not needed.
Add motion-detecting light sensors to the rooms in your house that you use most. These sensors will automatically turn off the lights of rooms that are currently not in use, saving on energy and, in turn, a lot of money! Remember to also have these lights outside above your garage and on your porch, too.
There are many techniques to save energy when doing your laundry. You can use a moisture control setting to turn off the dryer when laundry has dried. When you wash your clothes, choose the fastest spin cycle, which reduces the amount of moisture the dryer needs to evaporate. See to it that you clean your dryer’s filters often and check occasionally for blockages in your dryer’s vent.
Broken Seals
A great way to be green and save some money at the same time is to lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. You can see significant savings on your energy bill while still having water that is hot enough for your needs.
A good energy-saver is to check frequently for broken seals on your refrigerator. Broken seals let the cold or hot air escape from your oven and fridge, wasting that energy and costing you money. Put a piece of paper in the door: if it slides out easily, you need to replace your seal.
Your green living journey can start with major home improvements, or it can start with something as easy as using light bulbs that are energy-efficient. You will be amazed at the huge impact that small changes can make on the environment and your bottom line. Choose just one project at a time, and take positive steps toward a greener home.
Changing the filter in your furnace, using energy efficient light bulbs, and installing a programmable thermostat are easy ways to conserve energy in your home. Be an example for family members so others will see how simple it is to live a greener life! Remember the tips you have read here, and start implementing them into your household today.
The green energy industry is doing very well these days, and creating many new jobs all the time. You should consider this sector if you are thinking about changing jobs or advising your children on what their career options are. Learn more about jobs that deal with green energy, including technicians for solar panels or wind turbines.
About The Author
