How can green energy benefit you? It can reduce your reliance on the almighty electrical grid, lower your energy bills and reduce your footprint on the planet. How are you able to help? Continue reading for a few simple ways that you can help out.
If you’re designing any kind of outdoor lighting, you may want to think about installing solar-powered lamps. They are not only affordable, but they do not have to be hooked up to any power source, needing only good access to sunlight. This will save significant energy. It also means you do not to have string up those outdoor lights.
Solar Panels
You can conserve energy by shading your windows from sunlight. You could also try putting in curtains or blinds. Keeping your home cool in the summer means you will not be tempted to use the air conditioning as much. You will save money and energy at the same time.
Solar panels can be an excellent investment for the typical homeowner. But before you do this, there are a few things you must take into account. One major factor to consider with solar panels is the amount of sunlight your home receives. If you home is under a lot of shade, or in an area where you do not have a lot of sunny days, the power gained from your solar unit will not be very significant.
Conserve energy by unplugging chargers when you aren’t using them. Charging devices for several common types of electronics, including laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players all draw “phantom power” if you keep them plugged in while they are idle.
Whenever possible, you should use cold water to wash your clothes. Almost 90% of energy used for doing laundry is due to heating the water. Just make sure you don’t harm your clothes in the process; check out the labels on your clothes and make a judgment for yourself. Don’t forget to only wash clothes when you have a full load s you are as efficient with your energy as possible!
When away from home, cover the windows. They will help to keep the temperature and the energy consumption of the house down when the house is vacant. South-facing windows get maximum sun. Dark curtains, roller or roman shades can cover windows well.
Use window treatments to shade the inside of your home when you aren’t home. This cools the house and cuts energy costs. Generally, your home’s south-facing walls and windows receive the most sun exposure. Make sure that all the windows are covered with dark curtains, blinds, roman shades, or whatever shade you choose.
Solar batteries should be placed close to solar cells when system installation is taking place. This prevents energy from dissipating in a long cable. Additionally, it avoids problems with shading and capacity reduction.
Consider installing a solar water heating system. This works best in areas where the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing. Solar energy systems circulate water through solar heaters and then pump it into the house. Don’t get rid of your conventional water heater though; you may need it if it’s cloudy when you’re ready to use hot water.
The flow of air in a home is better controlled when you have stormed windows and doors installed. Storm’s windows and doors cut down on the cold air that drafts can let in. Homes which have stormed windows and doors increase their energy efficiency by as much as 45% which also ends up costing you a lot less on your utility bills.
If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, do not operate before it fills up. An equal amount of water and energy is used, whether it is full or not. Run your dishwasher using the energy-saving mode so that you can air-dry dishes and save energy.
Replace your water heater and get a tankless model. These still use gas and electricity to heat water, but they heat only what you use instead of continuously heating the whole tank. There are models available that provide on-demand hot water for a whole house or just one faucet.
Calculate potential energy generation during the planning of buying home solar systems. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, while leaving you safely ahead of your needs during the summer. Net usage plans let you receive money for generated energy!
Putting on a few more layers can help you save money in the winter. A sweater that is light can provide 2 degrees of extra warmth, while a heavy one provides 4. You don’t need to be cold at home, get yourself some nice warm clothes you can use in your house today!
Wearing warmer clothes helps slash energy costs as you go green. You can wear a heavy sweater instead of a light one to give yourself more warmth when you’re at home. There is no need to be fashionable while at home watching TV, so put on some layers and put some money back in your pocket!
Learn the difference between passive and active solar power. Passive solar power doesn’t require the costly power-storage cells that active power does. Active power is about using solar panels, cells and other installations. Passive power, on the other hand, stores the power in your walls and allows it to radiate outward, heating your home.
There are active and passive options for solar energy systems. When it comes to active power, the energy is stored for later use, while passive doesn’t need expensive cells in order to store power. Active systems are what you would normally think of when you think of solar–PV cells, mechanical parts, and storage devices. Passive systems use the sun’s rays to store energy withing the walls of your home and are significantly cheaper.
Make use of a solar-powered oven for baking. You can make one from an old window, cardboard box, and tin foil. These types of oven can become very hot with adequate sunlight, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
Consider using a solar over when you wish to bake. It’s fairly easy to make a solar oven using a discarded window box lined with foil to reflect the heat. These ovens reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees, while using no outside energy besides solar.
Trim your fuel usage by carpooling to more places than just work. If you have children, organize a carpooling system with your neighbors and trade off driving days among all the participating parents. If you live close to family or friends, carpool for grocery shopping or other errands to save gas.
Pay attention to the watts used in your home. If you do not know the formula to figure out the energy each appliance uses, there are tools like a Kill-A-Watt that can give you the information instantly. Plug your appliances in to these devices to find out what amount of energy is required each year, month or hour to run it. This gives you a much better idea of the real costs associated with each appliance you own.
One of the oldest tips in the book is to make sure that you turn off all electronics and lights when you leave any room to save energy. Developing this habit can save you a surprising amount of energy over the long term. Your power bills will also be significantly less.
When the holiday season rolls around again, make the switch to LED lighting rather than sticking with traditional lighting solutions. According to one study done by the DOE, the United States could save more than 2 billion hours of power, simply by having everyone make this change. The Department of Energy says that if everyone did this, the country would conserve more than 2 billion kilowatt power hours. That’s enough to power a quarter of a million houses for a year! An additional benefit to using LED lights is the savings you will receive on your electric bill.
It may be common sense, but most people do not turn off machines, lights, and other equipment when not in use. If you do this every day, your energy bills will plummet. Always take a few minutes to think before you leave your home and turn off all your appliances.
Energy Star
Consider bamboo as an option over wood products. Bamboo grows fast and in abundance; it does not have the same negative environmental impact as cutting down trees. It grows very fast and is being made into a variety of products from flooring to hard wood cutting boards for retail purchase. This can save energy in the manufacturing process, as well as saving in recycling costs later.
Get rid of your old appliances and replace them with Energy Star-certified appliances. The Energy Star rated appliance is guaranteed to use appreciably less energy than the older non-rated appliance. The amount of energy saved varies by appliances; you can save a lot of energy on your washing machine, refrigerator and dishwasher use if you switch to Energy Star appliances.
Green electronics may seem expensive in the beginning; however, the amount of energy saved will pay off over the life of the equipment. Energy savings, coupled with monetary savings, will make the investment worthwhile over the longer term. The environment will also benefit.
While many have thought about green energy, not many people invest the effort needed to understand how to use it properly. You have just read some great ideas that can help your home become green and sustainable without spending too much time or money.
Don’t forget to use ceiling fans just because it’s wintertime. Switch them to rotate clockwise, which pushes warm air down. The fans use much less electricity than your heater or furnace, which will cut your electric bill.
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