Going green does not mean going broke or having no time for anything else. Just a few changes at home and you can slash electricity costs and provide many positive things to the environment. Read this article for ways to use helpful green energy!
The government has made grants for investing in renewable energy available to the public. Talk to your local government and figure out what programs are in the area. Depending on your local energy programs, you could end up getting a renewable energy system set up for your home for free.
If you heat your home with fuel oil, inquire about switching over to biodiesel. You might even find that you can switch your system to partial biodiesel without having to purchase parts or hire a contractor to perform modifications. Biodiesel will burn cleaner than petroleum, which helps to protect the environment.
Wait until your dishwasher’s full before running it. The same amounts of water and energy are used every time. Make sure you are using the energy saving settings on your dishwasher that will air-dry your dishes.
Using solar energy is one good way to heat water. There are many solar hot-water appliances to get the job done. You can select from direct circulation systems or indirect varieties. You’re better off with an indirect system if you are worried about pipes freezing during the winter.
Be sure you maintain your refrigerator properly. The refrigerator hogs energy, so it should work well. Make a regular habit of removing dust from the refrigerator’s heating coils. Don’t forget to be certain to keep the seal surrounding the door tight and clean.
If you would like to live your life green, stay away from excess electric heater usage. Instead, start wearing warmer clothing indoors and use a pellet stove or fireplace to keep main living areas heated. This is good for your health as well as your electric bill. Breathing cooler air at night helps keep your respiratory system healthy; you’ll avoid drying out your airways.
Solar Power
If you are interested in solar power learn about the difference between active and passive power. Active solar power is stored so it can be used later, but passive doesn’t need pricey solar panel cells to store power. In order to use active power, you will need to install a few things, including solar cells, mechanical systems, and most importantly, solar panels. Passive solar power uses the heat of the sun to hold thermal energy within your home.
Investigate options for heating your oven through solar energy. You can make one with easy-to-find items like old windows, boxes, and aluminum foil to reflect light. These ovens can reach temperatures of over 300 degrees, and use no outside energy other than the sun. They can be made in minutes.
Closely monitor how many watts you are using. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. Plug your appliance or gadget into the watt-checking device, and it will tell you how much the unit consumes in energy in one hour, month or year. You can use this to identify your most expensive energy-hogging appliances.
A good energy saving tip is to switch your boiler. Older boilers are not as energy efficient as new ones because people didn’t worry about the environment when they were made. New boilers create less carbon dioxide, keep you healthier, and save you money.
Less Energy
Use Energy Star rated appliances instead of your old appliances. Energy Star ratings mean that your new appliances are technologically built to use less energy than previous models. Refrigerators and freezers use about 20 percent less energy, while the energy that washing machines use is cut in half.
One simple way to recognize products and appliances that are energy efficient is to locate those with the ENERGY STAR designation. When you see any appliance that has ENERGY STAR on it, then that means it meets guidelines approved by the U.S. Department of Energy and additionally the EPA ENERGY STAR products are useful for tax credits.
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). Make sure your garage has outdoor lighting, as well.
Use weatherizing techniques to improve the energy efficiency rating of your home. If you seal ducts and drafts around your windows or doors, then you will reduce the energy you need to run your house. Also, you will greatly reduce your energy bill.
Although many people do not believe in global warming, everyone can still benefit by using green energy at home. Simple changes, like turning off the overhead lights when leaving a room, can add up to huge utility bill savings.