Going green does not always require big changes; sometimes it’s the little things that matter. Even the most seemingly tentative step in the right direction can be very important from an environmental perspective. Below are tips that will get you on the path to using green energy sources.
Wear natural fabrics instead of always using the air conditioning during summer. Natural materials like cotton repel moisture from your skin and allow it to stay cool. Lighter colors also make you feel cooler.
A good benchmark to use when determining how much power a new solar system is likely to generate is the number of hours of sunlight in the winter. Using this metric means you will meet your energy needs in the winter, while greatly exceeding them in the summer. Combining this method with a net utilities plan will mean getting back money from the electric company during the summer, too.
When you have a solar energy system installed, ensure that the batteries that hold the power are situated in close proximity to the cells. This helps prevent power loss in the cables. You also will not have to worry about the cells being shaded by a cable and not producing as much energy as they could.
Take time to maintain your fridge properly. Your fridge consumes a ton of energy, so make sure it’s in good shape. Clean the dust off of the heating coils on a regular basis. Inspect the door’s seal for tightness and cleanliness.
If you love green energy and green living, consider using electric heaters less during the winter months. You can wear warmer clothing instead, and warm up your home with your fireplace. In addition, this is beneficial to your health, as cooler air keeps your airways from getting too dry, allowing you to breathe easier while sleeping.
Use a solar oven when baking. You can make one from an old window, cardboard box, and tin foil. You can reach an oven temperature of 300 degrees or more without using any other source of energy besides the sun. It only takes a few minutes to build a solar oven.
Watch how many watts you use. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. Plus an appliance into the gadget and it will tell you how much energy it is using. You’ll be able to calculate how much each appliance costs you in electricity and replace those which are power hogs.
Make reminders for yourself to set new energy efficiency targets, and be sure you examine each utility bill that comes in against last year’s bill to see if gains are being made. When you’re aware of energy expenses, you’re better positioned to reduce them. If you form good habits of cutting your electric or water usage, turning off appliances and lights when not in use becomes automatic.
Heat your house with biofuels. Biofuels consist of vegetable or animal fats, wood and oils. A propane furnace can be converted to use these types of fuels, or fuel blends. This would change the conversation to around 20-99% biodiesel. Make sure you ask a professional before you attempt to utilize this type of fuel inside your household.
Switching your boiler is a great energy saving tip. Older boilers are not as energy efficient as new ones because people didn’t worry about the environment when they were made. They not only produce less carbon dioxide, which is good for your health, but they can significantly cut your energy bill.
A good tip is to always microwave when cooking in order to save energy. Whenever you use your stove or oven, you use a significant amount of energy. So, by microwaving instead, you save a lot of energy.
An easy way to use green energy is to install a tankless water heater. Water heaters normally run all the time, even if hot water isn’t needed. Using an on-demand water heater is a great way to save both energy and money.
Your electric company can assist you in making your home energy-efficient. Several light and utility companies provide tips and tools on their website to let you know the amount of energy you are using and wasting. You may want to see if some of their programs can provide you with energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances.
If you spend the money on green appliances and electronics now, you’ll save over time. While greener technology is often more expensive initially, the long-term savings will more than offset this. The environment will also benefit.
Ceiling Fans
Make use of ceiling fans even in the winter. They can be used to push the warmer air away from the ceiling when you put them in clockwise rotation. This will reduce the amount of time you need to run the furnace. The amount it costs to run ceiling fans is insignificant compared to the amount of energy necessary to run your furnace.
You can save a good amount of money on your energy bills by using a programmable thermostat in your home. These thermostats have pre-programmed settings that regulate temperatures in your home in both summer and winter months. Additionally, you can set them to adjust and control the temperatures during daytime and nighttime periods.
Save money on your electric bills by being stingy about light usage. In months that are brighter, leave lights off until a specific time of day. Installing dimmers on your light switches is another great way to reduce the amount of energy in use.
Switching to green energies should remain easy. As you have learned from this article there are a lot of ways you can green up your life for the better. Make sure that all you’ve read from this article is applied. It might not take a ton of effort, but using green energy can be a positive change.