It does not have to be expensive to go green, nor does it have to be time consuming. In a few simple steps, you can reduce your energy use and help improve the environment. Take advantage of the helpful tips in the article below to positively impact the environment with green energy.
When creating an outdoor light set up for a garden path or patio, think of solar powered lamps as an option. These lamps are cheap and don’t require any power besides sun exposure. This does more than just save energy. You will not have to hook up the lights to an electrical source.
You can conserve energy by shading your windows from sunlight. Closing your blinds and curtains will keep out the sun in summer and keep heat from escaping in winter. Doing both these things will decrease your usage of the air conditioning during the summer because your house will be cooler. You will save both money and energy in the process.
Whenever possible, use cold water to wash your clothing. Having heated water in your washer can use up to nine-tenths of the energy required to run a washing machine. If your detergent is of good quality, you should have no problems using cold water. It is also better to clean a full load, not smaller loads.
Use drapes or curtains in your windows for when you are not home. This helps to keep your house at a cooler temperature and lower the amount of energy used. Try to close all your window coverings, but it is especially important to cover any south-facing windows. Dark, lined curtains, roman shades or roller shades may be something to consider using on your windows.
Do some research to gain information on the energy sources available to your area. Find out what the cost of using these utilities to run your home would be. Think about switching to natural gas or well water as examples of simple changes.
Rather than using a dryer, dry your clothes outside, as long as the weather permits. Using the sun can make clothes smell a lot better. It is a fresher smell than you would get from the dryer. You can save a significant amount on your utility bills, too, because the dryer uses energy and heats up the air, causing the air conditioner to run more often.
Make use of energy-efficient products to save both money and energy. One of the most popular products to increase the energy efficiency of your home are double-pane windows that have received a high energy star rating. This type of product is perfect for reducing AC costs.
Hiring professionals, such as a heating professional or plumber, to come to your home can lay any doubts you have about green energy to rest. These professionals can explain how efficient your systems are, and how much it will probably cost to change or replace them.
Energy Costs
Opt out of snail mail where possible, and choose to get bills and notices by email. In other words, go paperless as much as possible. This not only helps businesses you communicate with save on energy costs, but it also helps you save on energy costs as well. It is also beneficial to our environment.
If you want to “go green” and do your part to help save the environment, you have a lot of options. Even though you may not have too much money, there are little things you can do, such as lowering your heat to 60 when you aren’t home and cleaning your furnace filters monthly. Setting the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees will help reduce energy costs, too. Each little bit makes a difference!
Keep a record of your energy efficiency goals. Each month, check your utility bills to check your year-over-year progress with regard to saving energy. Simply being conscious of how much you spend on energy will save you a ton. So when you make true conscious efforts to reduce your electrical or water usage you make up a good habit of turning off appliances or lights which in turn helps your bill and the environment.
Think about using a carpool more often than commuting to work if you want to cut the amount of fuel you use. Ask other parents in the neighborhood if they are interested in carpooling for their children and trade days with them. You can also schedule grocery shopping and other errands with friends that live near you.
Switch out an old boiler. A lot of the old boilers weren’t constructed with energy saving in mind, as opposed to the newer ones which are much more energy efficient. Not only can they shave money off your energy bill, but they benefit your health by releasing less carbon dioxide.
When purchasing wood items, consider getting products that are crafted from bamboo. Bamboo is very green and strong and is technically considered a grass. It grows quickly and can be used and sold for a variety of purposes, from cutting boards to flooring. Thanks to this, energy is saved when it comes to production and recycling.
60 Degrees
Reducing your thermostat to 60 degrees when the house is vacant will save you more energy than you may think. At 60 degrees, your home uses far less energy than keeping the temperature higher. This results in saving money and energy.
Be sure to constantly check your refrigerator and freezer’s seal in order to avoid excess energy use. A weak or broken seal will make your refrigerator run constantly, hiking up your power bill and wasting precious energy. If you want to know if the seal needs to be replaced, put a piece of paper between the door and the fridge and see if it slides out easily.
Although not everyone believes that global warming is a threat, anyone can benefit from using green energy in the home. By making a couple small changes like turning off lights when not needed, can really help save you lots of money on your electric bill.