Many people are looking to live a green life but really have no idea where to start. There are a myriad of solutions available to help customers protect the environment through the use of alternative, renewable energy sources. Read on to find out out how to be more environmentally friendly and save money at the same time.
Keeping your windows shaded to keep sunlight out of the house will greatly conserve energy. Keep blinds closed and curtains drawn. Doing both these things will decrease your usage of the air conditioning during the summer because your house will be cooler. Energy and money are both saved this way.
Instead of using A/C in the summer, wear natural fabrics. Cotton and other natural fabrics actually remove moisture from the skin, resulting in a cooler feel. You can also try wearing lighter colors, they help you feel cooler, lessening your need for artificial cold air.
Clean filters or replace them to ensure your furnace is appropriating at prime efficiency. Also install filters on air registers. Debris (and small toys) will not reach the heating ducts to clog the main filter.
Wash clothing in cold water. Almost 90% of the power you use to do laundry is simply used to heat the water. If you are using good quality washing detergent, cold water is effective. Furthermore, bear in mind that you will get maximum efficiency from washing a load that is full, rather then multiple small loads.
Consider installing a solar water heating system. The heater uses solar energy to heat water before sending it to your home. This can be useful if your home isn’t located in an area with cold temperatures. But, be sure to keep a regular water heater for a backup should the sun not come out or for times that you need large amounts of hot water.
Take time to maintain your fridge properly. The refrigerator hogs energy, so it should work well. Clean heating coils regularly to get rid of dust. You should also be sure that the door has a clean and tight seal.
Homes with storm doors and windows have better airflow than homes without these upgrades. These kinds of doors and windows reduces the amount of cold air that comes into the home. When homes have windows and doors that are stormed, 45 percent less energy is used, which can decrease electric bills.
To save money on heating your water, buy a tankless system. Tankless water heaters still require power to heat the water, but they heat only the water that you want to use, rather than heating a tank of water that you’re not always using. You can purchase tankless water heaters that are small enough to heat one faucet, or large enough to heat your entire house.
Active Power
Try to learn about passive and active solar power. While active power requires storage cells, passive power doesn’t. Active power is about using solar panels, cells and other installations. Passive solar power uses the heat of the sun to hold thermal energy within your home.
Switch your boiler to save more energy. Older boilers are not as energy efficient as new ones because people didn’t worry about the environment when they were made. Not only can they shave money off your energy bill, but they benefit your health by releasing less carbon dioxide.
Search for an Energy Star logo when shopping for appliances in order to find the most energy-efficient ones. The ENERGY STAR seal indicates appliances that meet the guidelines which have been established by the U.S. Department of Energy as well as the EPA. These products are also often the only ones eligible for tax rebates.
For room that are heavily occupied, add motion detecting light sensors. This turns the lights off in rooms that have nobody in them, which saves a lot of energy (and money). Add these sensors to your outdoor lights, as well.
Reducing your thermostat to 60 degrees when the house is vacant will save you more energy than you may think. Keeping your home at this low temperature means very little energy is used. The resulting effect is energy usage cuts and money saved.
Solar Panels
If you plan to create a greener home, put solar panels on the roof. Even though a significant cost is involved when you install solar panels, your investment cost will be recouped within several years. Once you have the panels installed solar energy then becomes free, and with any excess power you gather you can potentially sell that to electric companies.
You can use ceiling fans in the winter. Change to the winter clockwise rotation to return the warm air down towards the room and put less stress on your heater. Running your fans is less costly than leaving your furnace on all the time.
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. By doing this you could save up to 10 percent off your electric bill, while still having comfortable enough water to cook and shower with.
Decrease prices on green technology by demanding access to those products. Use your leverage as a conscious consumer to demand technologies that are good for the environment. When enough people combine their buying power, the industry will respond by offering a wider range of environmentally friendly products at lower costs. This will also hasten the manufacturing changes that will be necessary to keep product manufacturers profitable as they enter the age of green technology.
Purchase a home energy monitor to keep tabs on the energy your home uses. These devices collect data about how much electricity your home is using, and provide an estimate of the next month’s bill based on this information. Research has shown that people who know exactly what they are using in energy will scale back their overall energy usage.
Green Energy
As you have seen, green energy is an increasingly prominent topic in political discussions as oil prices continue to rise. It’s easier to figure out how to use green energy on a daily basis if you are educated about it. Use what you’ve learned in this article to join the green revolution today!