Green energy is a great way to help the environment while also providing benefits for your home. There are some easy ways to reduce your energy use and save money by being more efficient in your home. Read this article for some quick tips on conserving the energy used while at home.
You can reduce your energy usage by just reducing your electricity usage. If there is an appliance you aren’t using, then unplug it. Turn off lights and other electronics in a room when you leave. These simple tips can save you money, as well as saving electricity.
Lower the heating costs of your water, hot tubs and pools by changing over to a heating system that is run by solar power. Heating water with electricity or natural gas is not very efficient, but solar water heaters harness energy from the sun to keep water at a steady temperature. While many of these upgrades have high up-front costs, they may qualify for tax credits or other rebates.
Save on the use of electricity in your home, and become a better consumer of energy by unplugging your electronic devices and gadgets when they are not in use. Chargers for your electronics, such as an iPod or cell phone, are always using electricity, even when they’re not in use, so unplug them when you can.
Clothes should always be washed in cold water, if possible. Almost 90% of the energy you use when you do laundry is due to heating water. If your detergent is of good quality, you should have no problems using cold water. Furthermore, bear in mind that you will get maximum efficiency from washing a load that is full, rather then multiple small loads.
Know the available energy options in your community. Calculate the expense of using these types of utilities while noting any recent legislation pertaining to energy costs. Switching from electricity to gas, or from your city water supply to a well, may save you money.
On hot, summer days, hang your clothes outside. Your laundry will smell fantastic after a day in the sun. They’ll be smelling much fresher than if they were just dried in a dryer. You will also have lower utility bills.
When not using things, turn them off. When you leave an area take the time to turn off lights, televisions, stereos, computers, and other electrical items you are not going to be using. When you can, plug your electronics into a power strip and when you are not using it, turn it off. Energy is still being used when something is in standby mode.
Put the solar energy system’s batteries close to its cells during installation. No power will be lost during the transfer from the cells to the batteries by doing this. It also reduces shading of the solar shells. Shading reduces solar panel energy generation.
Sweater Gives
You can save on your energy bill by dressing warmly. A light sweater gives you 2 extra degrees of warmth, while a heavy sweater gives you 4 degrees. Since it is pointless to wear very little clothing while indoors, you might as well wear a sweater.
Don’t turn the thermostat up higher than needed in your home. If you’re chilly, add a layer of clothing, such as a sweatshirt and some sweatpants. When heat is raised to a higher level you end up using a lot of energy you didn’t really need to use.
When the holiday season rolls around again, make the switch to LED lighting rather than sticking with traditional lighting solutions. A study was conducted by the U.S. One study conducted by the Department of Energy found that if everyone in the U.S. switched to these lights, more than two billion kilowatt hours worth of power would be saved. Over 200,000 homes can be powered for a full year with that amount of energy. At least, you can save money on your electricity!
Is your boiler over 10 years old? Buy a new one to save money! Older boilers are not as energy efficient as new ones because people didn’t worry about the environment when they were made. They have two advantages: reducing your energy bill by a large amount, and producing a lesser amount of CO2, which is much more healthy.
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. The amount of energy saved depends on the type of appliance. Refrigerators and freezers use 20% less energy, while dishwashers use 40% less. Washing machines use half as much energy as their non-rated counterparts.
If you are not in a room, do not keep the lights on. Turning off lights habitually will add up to great energy savings over time. You not only save a lot of energy but you save money, as well.
When buying wood, think about buying bamboo. Bamboo is a strong and durable option for flooring, cutting boards and furniture. It grows quickly and can be made into many products, such as cutting boards or flooring. That will save energy in production costs during manufacturing, as well as in recycling.
Look for appliances with the Energy Star label to find the most energy efficient appliances. ENERGY STAR appliances must meet all the guidelines which have been established by the U.S. Department of Energy and additionally the Environmental Protection Agency. In many cases, you won’t be able to get a tax rebate from any appliance that doesn’t feature these logos.
As this article previously stated, being green doesn’t need to be time consuming or expensive. Making changes in your home now can end up saving you money in the long run. Tell your friends about what you’ve read here so that everyone in your neighborhood can help save the planet.