What will green energy help you accomplish? You can cut down on energy bills since your family will not have to depend on electricity provided by the city. It will also help you save some of the Earth’s resources. Eco-friendly green energy helps protect the environment. Read on for some simple secrets to help you do your part!
When designing outdoor lighting for your patio or garden path, consider solar-powered lamps. These lamps require now power source, except the sun, and are generally inexpensive. This does more than just save energy. It also ensures that there is no need to wire lights outdoor.
Shade your windows from excessive amounts of sunlight to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Both curtains and blinds will help keep the heat from the sun out of your home during the summer months. Both of these adjustments can help you cut back on using the air conditioner, since your house will remain cooler. You will save both energy and money.
Are you lucky enough to own a farm? If so, you can rent a portion of it so wind turbines can be installed. You will reap the benefits of this energy and the space needed is minimal.
If you use oil to heat your home, see if biofuel can be used instead. A lot of times this can be done with minimal modifications to your existing system. Bio-diesel is more efficient and burns cleaner than conventional petroleum, which in turn, reduces the environmental impact from your home during the winter.
Always be consistent in maintaining your fridge. Since refrigerators are one of the high-consumption appliances, it’s crucial that you keep it running efficiently. Every week, check and see if dust has accumulated near the heating coils. If it has, take the time to remove it. Also, check the door to be sure it is sealed tightly.
Desktop Computers
Desktop computers are very power hungry. Try using a laptop as an alternative. You can save a ton of electricity by using a laptop. Both the Internet and most word processing software packages use a lot of energy on desktop computers, so getting a laptop can really save money if you use these features. Also, you can bring the laptop with you wherever you go.
Look for rebates for green-energy technology installations. Local utility companies often offer rebates for upgrades. In some cases, there could be credits or tax deductions either from the federal or state government. The combination of rebates and tax credits will make it much more affordable to install green energy systems.
Don’t turn your heat up too far in the home, unless you need to. If it’s chilly, put on warmer clothes. Higher levels of heat use a lot of excess energy!
Monitor how many watts you’re using. Gadgets such as the Watt Minder or the Kill-A-Watt will help you find out which of your appliances are hogging energy. Gadgets can be set to give you the energy-usage amounts for hours, months or years. With that information, you will be able to calculate how much that appliance costs to operate.
You can use bio-fuels to heat your house. Biofuels contain wood, oil and fat. If you have a propane furnace, a professional will be able to adjust your system so you can heat your home using a fuel blend. Your fuel choices are likely to be between 20 and 99 percent biofuel. Talk to a professional before using biofuel in the home.
Water-saving toilets are easy to find and install. Some studies show that flushing the toilet accounts for half the water used in a typical home. Older toilets use about 5 gallons per flush, while the newer, water-saving toilets need only 1.6 gallons of water for each flush, cutting your annual water usage by up to 70%.
The extra money that you may spend will quickly come back to you. Usually, technologies that are green cost more than regular technologies, but in the long run this will pay off in the form of reduced utility costs. It also pays off in the future for the environment.
Solar Energy
Making use of solar energy will take your current green home plans to the next level. While you do make a large investment when you begin, the government offers grants to help you offset the costs, and you’ll make the money back in utility bill reduction or selling the extra energy you create back to the grid. After the panels are installed, solar energy is pretty much free. You may even be able to sell some of this energy to your local electric company.
Many people consider using green energy, but few actually take the time to learn how to implement it in their own lives. This article should rectify that and help you make good use of green energy.