Going green has numerous benefits for the home, while offering positives for the environment, as well. It only takes a few changes to vastly improve your home’s energy efficiency, and cut that electric bill down to size! Continue reading to learn more about the energy saving options that might be available to you.
You can reduce your energy usage by just reducing your electricity usage. Unplug appliances whenever you are not going to be using them for awhile. Turn off the TV and lights when they aren’t in use. This helps to save money without much effort.
You can reduce the amount of electricity that you use, and be a better energy user by removing chargers that power your devices from outlets when they are not in use. They may not be currently in use, but items such as cell phone chargers, laptops and mp3 players draw energy when left plugged in.
Are you lucky enough to own a farm? Companies are actually looking for space to put wind turbines in, and a small part of your property can be used as one of those spots. You and the neighbors can benefit from this free installation and energy which won’t take up much space.
Furnace filters should be replaced annually, and check them monthly for cleanliness. Filters can also be installed in every warm-air register. This will help keep debris from clogging up heating ducts and becoming inoperable.
When you can, wash your clothes using cold water. Almost 90% of the energy you use when you do laundry is due to heating water. Washing clothes in cold water can be just as effective as a warm cycle, especially with today’s cold water detergents. Also, make sure your load is a full one so you do not waste energy washing several small loads.
Investigate all of the energy sources your community has to offer. Check how much these utilities cost and any tax breaks or laws before making a decision. For example, it might be wise to use natural gas instead of electric heat or water from the well rather than city water.
One great way of conserving energy is to ensure the dishwasher is only turned on when full. Never run it with just a few dishes inside. You might be surprised by how much you can actually fit in the dishwasher. Take care to line up your dishes, so you are able to put in as many as you can.
As you plan for a solar energy array, use winter time sunshine hours to calculate from. This prevents any unanticipated effects from a winter months, and it keeps you ahead of the game for summer months. If you generate excess energy during the summer, with the right plan, your utility company will send you a check!
Maintain your refrigerator well. Since refrigerators are one of the high-consumption appliances, it’s crucial that you keep it running efficiently. Be sure to regularly clean out the dust around the heating coils. Also ensure that the rubber seals around the doors are clean and making tight contact.
If you are really committed to going green, one way to do so is to limit how often you use your electric heater in winter. Ways to cut down on electricity include wearing warm clothing indoors and using a fireplace to heat your home. It helps breathing, and prevents dry airways if you make the air cooler during sleeping.
Choose a laptop instead of a desktop PC to save energy. This can lower your electrical use by as much as 75%, particularly if you are someone who stays on the Internet for long periods of time. Laptops are also portable which makes them much more functional and handy in times of need.
If you are apprehensive about what green changes to make to your home, there are many green energy consultants available today. They can advise you about how much inefficient appliances cause you to lose financially, and they can estimate the price of upgrading or simply replacing your old systems.
Try to get your mail, like bills, sent to you through email. In other words, choose to go paperless in any way you can. Reducing your consumption of paper saves energy on production costs, along with the costs of shredding documents in your home. Not only that, it is also great for the environment too.
A solar oven is an energy efficient way of baking. You can make one with easy-to-find items like old windows, boxes, and aluminum foil to reflect light. These ovens can be quickly assembled, and reach 300 degrees in temperature simply using the sun.
Energy Star Rated
Replace old, energy-hogging appliances with new versions that are Energy Star rated. The Energy Star rated appliance is guaranteed to use appreciably less energy than the older non-rated appliance. For your refrigerator/freezer, Energy star appliances promise to cut energy usage by 20%, and you will see 40% and 50% energy usage, respectively, in Energy Star dishwashers and washing machines.
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. Simply turning off the lights when you aren’t using them can really save energy. This has an environmental benefit and a budgetary one.
An on-demand (tankless) water heater is very green. Instead of constantly heating water, these newer heaters heat it only as necessary so that you don’t waste energy. An on-demand water heater instantly heats water when necessary and saves energy.
As this article previously stated, being green doesn’t need to be time consuming or expensive. You can make a few changes in your home and save money spent on electricity. Keep the advice that was presented to you in mind and make a difference in our world. Take the time to also share it with others.