Perhaps you’ve heard a lot about green energy and its accompanying technology, and you are interested in how you can incorporate it into your life. If you want to learn more, read this article for some tips. The following article will teach you how to incorporate green technology into your home environment.
Do your laundry using cold water, if you can. Almost ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine comes from heating the water for a warm or hot cycle. Provided you are using the right laundry detergent, you will not see a cleanliness difference by washing in cold water. Also, don’t wash your clothes until you can completely fill the washer, as this saves energy over time.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, ask a professional if you can use biodiesel. Many heating systems can be switched over to run on biodiesel without needing extra modifications or parts. When you use biodiesel it burns a lot cleaner than conventional petroleum, which reduces the impact your home has on energy during the colder months of the year.
Every community offers different energy sources, so research the ones that are available to you. Checking the costs of running a home with utilities should also include recent legislation about energy costs. You may find that switching to one or another may provide a reduction in energy use and cost.
Don’t run your dishwasher if it is less than totally full. A half load uses the exact same amount of water and energy as a full one. Try using the energy-saving air-drying setting on your dishwasher.
Watch for state and federal tax incentives for upgrading your home to use renewable energy sources. In some situations, your local utility company may provide rebates to offset some of the cost of such upgrades. Also, you will find that you can get a tax deduction or a credit from the federal or state government. Receiving these kinds of credits and rebates can make installing the updates much less expensive for you.
Don’t turn up the heat very high. If you feel a small chill, instead of turning up the heat, put on a sweatshirt or sweatpants. When heat is raised to a higher level you end up using a lot of energy you didn’t really need to use.
Make use of a solar-powered oven for baking. Common items, such as a heavy cardboard box, some shiny foil and an old window are all that you need. They require only sunlight to reach a temperature of more than 300 degrees, and they only take a few minutes to construct.
Watch your watt usage. Use gadgets such as Kill-A-Watt or Watt Minder and figure out what your consumption is and where it is coming from. Gadgets can be set to give you the energy-usage amounts for hours, months or years. You can learn how much your appliances are costing you.
Energy Star
Replace aging major appliances with ENERGY STAR appliances. Energy Star ratings mean that your new appliances are technologically built to use less energy than previous models. Fridges and freezers with the rating use at least 20% less energy, dishwashers use 40% less, and washing machines use at least half the energy of non-rated models.
Get a water-saving toilet. Estimates show that about 50% of your home’s water is used by flushing toilets. A traditional toilet uses up to 5 gallons for each flush of the toilet, but the newer models use as little at 1.6 gallons, which is a savings of 3.4 gallons with each flush.
A water heater that provides hot water on demand is a wonderful appliance for green energy. Old fashioned heaters run constantly, heating the water even when not needed, therefore wasting energy. On-demand models provide hot water instantly when necessary, instead of continuously throughout the day, saving you money and energy.
Do not forget to turn off anything you do not use, including lights, appliances and electronics. By being more conscious and vigilant, they can help save both the planet and money on their electric bills. Always take a few minutes to think before you leave your home and turn off all your appliances.
Energy Efficiency
You can increase the energy efficiency of your home with proper weatherization procedures. Weatherization involves retrofitting the heating and cooling systems for energy efficiency, upgrading the insulation, sealing ducts, and installing energy-efficient windows. All of these things make your home more energy efficient. In addition to the energy saved you will also receive a lower energy bill.
You can also save money by installing a thermostat that is programmable. When you get one of these thermostats you help regulate the temperatures for your home during both the winter and summer months. They can also keep regular temperatures during the day and night.
If you want a greener home, then choose more responsibility for your light usage. During the months when sun is brightest, avoid using lights before a certain time of day. You can use dimmers, which reduces light usage, and you can use timers and/or sensors to make sure any unnecessary lights are turned off when someone exits the room.
Thaw your frozen food in the refrigerator to save on energy costs. Not only will this safely thaw the food, but also the cold air than emanates from the frozen goods will help the refrigerator to stay cool, reducing overall energy consumption.
Green Energy
Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you should be ready to convert to green energy. Make use of the advice you have read here to get started with green energy right away. The environment will thank you, and so will your wallet.