Many people are interested in living green, but aren’t sure how to do so. The good news is that if you want to go green, you can choose from many alternative energy sources to help you and the environment. This article will provide you with tips so you can make greater use of green energy today.
Use solar heating systems to heat all your water in order to save money. Heating water with natural gas or electricity is not that efficient, but with solar energy, water takes the suns energy and keeps temperatures steady. You may be eligible for tax deductions for using energy efficient upgrades.
You can get a grant from the government to help you invest into some renewable energy. Contact your local government in order to see the different programs available in your area. You may qualify for a free installation or a tax deduction.
Consume energy more wisely by unplugging your device chargers when they are not in use. Chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cell phones and other devices use power when they’re plugged in. This happens regardless of whether you’re using the device or not.
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. Your clothes will smell fresher when dried naturally rather than in the dryer. Additionally, you will see a noticeable decrease in your utility bills.
Turn you appliances off when you are not using them. Any rooms in the home that are vacant should not have any electronics or lights left on. Use power strips for your electronics, and make sure to turn it of when you are not using it. If it is in standby it’s still wasting power.
If you have a dishwasher, do not turn it on until it is full. The dishwasher cycle uses the same amounts of water and energy, whether it is full or not. Using the air-dry setting will save energy when you run the dishwasher.
Watch for state and federal tax incentives for upgrading your home to use renewable energy sources. Your local utility company may be offering green energy rebates to apply updates. Other companies may offer tax deductions from your local or federal government. These credits and rebates reduce the price you will pay to install green tech products at home.
If you are uncertain with regard to expensive green energy updates for your home, have a heating expert or plumber provide an overview of the systems that you currently have in place. They should be able to inform you about extra expenses you are paying for inefficient appliances, as well as the amount it would cost to upgrade to newer, energy-efficient models.
Solar Oven
Build and use a solar oven to bake outdoors and save energy. These can be made with readily available items like an old window, box, and piece of foil for reflection. You can reach an oven temperature of 300 degrees or more without using any other source of energy besides the sun. It only takes a few minutes to build a solar oven.
Keep track of how many watts you’re using. Use gadgets like the Watt Minder and the Kill-A-Watt so that you can discover what uses the most energy. When you plug an electrical appliance into the monitor, it displays how much energy it requires each hour, month, or year. With that information, you will be able to calculate how much that appliance costs to operate.
There are countless things you can do it you want to live a environmentally friendly lifestyle. Even if you don’t have a ton of money, you can do simple things, like monthly cleaning of the filters in your furnace or lowering the thermostat to 60 degrees when you’re not going to be home. You can also help reduce energy usage by reducing the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees. Every small amount helps.
Switch your toilets to one of the newer, water-saving varieties. Estimates show that 50% of water used in a home is to flush the toilet. An older model toilet uses a lot more water than a water-saving one, 5 gallons versus 1.6 gallons, almost 70 percent more.
Do not forget to turn off anything you do not use, including lights, appliances and electronics. Just by making some simple mindset alterations, a large amount of money can be saved in energy costs. Always take a few minutes to think before you leave your home and turn off all your appliances.
As stated above, the demand for green energy is consistently growing as cheap oil is becoming obsolete. When you’re knowledgeable, it is easy to go green. Utilize the tips and advice you have read here, and you will be well on your way to living a greener life.