Using green energy has become a common trend in society. What, exactly, constitutes green power? In simplistic terms, renewable energy and technology that is energy efficient are both considered to be green energy. Read on to learn how to use green energy to make your home more energy efficient.
Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. Chargers for devices like phones, music players, computers and others use small amounts of power any time they are in an outlet, even if you aren’t charging anything.
A simple way to save energy is to close the curtains. Both curtains and blinds will help keep the heat from the sun out of your home during the summer months. When you use these two things in tandem, you will find your heating and cooling bills will plummet. By blocking the sun’s rays, you will save energy and money.
Do you have a farm? If so, you can rent some property to energy companies for installing wind turbines. You and the neighbors can relish in the free energy and installation, if it doesn’t require too much space.
Are you a farm owner? If you or someone you know does, you can rent a piece of your land to a company looking to put in a wind turbine. You will reap the benefits of this energy and the space needed is minimal.
Cover your windows if you’re not going to be home. The result will be a cooler house because the window’s admit less heat. South-facing windows get maximum sun. Cover all of these windows with curtains, blinds or roller shades.
Wash clothing in cold water. Almost ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine comes from heating the water for a warm or hot cycle. Cold water will do the job just as well; all you need is an effective clothes washing detergent. Be sure to always do a full load of clothes when you wash.
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Look into the cost of operating your home with each of your options, keeping in mind any recent changes to legislation about energy costs. For example, it may be cheaper for you to heat your home with natural gas as opposed to electricity, or use well water instead of city water.
Biodiesel Fuel
If you want to save money and energy, only run your dishwasher when it is completely full of dishes. Avoid running the dishwasher when there isn’t a full load to run. You might be surprised by the number of items that you can fit in your dishwasher. Carefully align your dishes so that you can place as many dishes into it as possible.
Biodiesel fuel might be an option if your current heat source is fuel oil. There are many systems that can switch to biodiesel with needing significant modification. Biodiesel fuel runs more efficiently and is cleaner for the environment, reducing your home’s impact on the environment during winter months.
When not being used, turn things off. When you leave a room, shut off the lights, TV, computer, game systems, etc. You can save a lot of money on energy by investing into a new power strip for all of your electronics and turning it off when those electronics aren’t in use.
A solar water heater may be a viable option in your home. Using a solar water heater to warm your water with the energy of the sun works to save money and energy. You should still retain traditional water heaters for backup when the sun doesn’t show, or if you use a lot of heated water.
If you utilize a dishwasher, avoiding using it until it’s filled up. Regardless of how many dishes are inside, equal amounts of water and energy are used. When you run a dishwasher, use the ‘energy-saver’ setting so dishes can air-dry.
Find out about the various energy sources that are available in your local community. Investigate costs for using those utilities, and be aware of any legislation about energy costs. You may choose, for example, to go from electric to natural gas for heating, or using a well instead of city water.
Batteries need to be situated closely to the cells in solar power systems. This avoids power loss in the cable. It also lowers the risk of the cable casting a shadow over the cells, which reduces their ability to generate power.
Electric heaters are an energy hog and should be avoided as much as possible in the winter. They are not environmentally friendly. You can invest in warmer clothes and take advantage of your fireplace or pellet stove in order to heat your living areas. It is better to sleep in cooler air, it helps you breathe, and keeps your airways moist.
Make your home energy-efficient with products that conserve power. One of the most popular products to increase the energy efficiency of your home are double-pane windows that have received a high energy star rating. This will reduce both your home’s heating and cooling bills.
Keep track of how many watts you’re using. Use great gadgets such as the Kill-A-Watt or the Watt Minder to find out which fixtures and appliances use up the most energy. Plug the appliance into the device, and it can tell you the amount of energy it uses within an hour, month, or even a year. You’ll be able to calculate how much each appliance costs you in electricity and replace those which are power hogs.
Instead of utilizing a desktop computer which eat up lots more energy, purchase a laptop. This can significantly lower the amount of electricity you use, especially if the computer is on the Internet a lot or uses word processing software. Not to mention, it can be taken anywhere thanks to its portability.
Keep written track to remind yourself of your green energy goals, and look for progress in your energy consumption by comparing current bills to the previous year’s. Being conscious when it comes to your energy expenditures could help significantly reduce them. So when you make true conscious efforts to reduce your electrical or water usage you make up a good habit of turning off appliances or lights which in turn helps your bill and the environment.
Make use of a solar oven for baking needs. It’s fairly easy to make a solar oven using a discarded window box lined with foil to reflect the heat. They don’t use any outside energy and can get up to 300 degrees.
Share rides with others in your neighborhood to greatly reduce your fuel usage. Carpooling with other neighborhood parents to transport children back and forth to school not only saves you time, it sames you money. You can also schedule grocery shopping and other errands with friends that live near you.
Keep an eye on how many watts of electricity you use. Devices like Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt can help you determine the highest energy-usage culprits in your home. 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 way, you will know how much that appliance costs you, and you can adjust your usage or settings accordingly.
You should turn off all appliances, lights, and any other devices when they’re not in use. If you make this a habit, your energy bills could be greatly reduced. Put the idea in your consciousness and remember to turn them off.
Keep a record of your energy efficiency goals. Each month, check your utility bills to check your year-over-year progress with regard to saving energy. Just being conscious of the energy that you use will help you reduce them significantly. For example, making a decision to reduce electricity usage will help you develop a habit to turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
Energy Consumption
Trade in your old major appliances for new ones with the Energy Star rating. To receive an Energy Star rating from the government, appliances must meet minimum efficiency standards, unlike the non-rated appliances you may currently own. Appliances like fridges and freezers can use up to 20% less energy, while washing machines can save up to 50%.
A simple way to start going green is to talk to your power company. Many electric companies can give you data showing your peak hours of energy consumption and ways to reduce energy consumption. They may also have programs to help you purchase energy efficient appliances and light bulbs.
While cooking, use a microwave if you can to save on energy. The stove and oven use a lot more energy to cook foods. Any time you could perform a task in the microwave without altering the results, such as boiling water, do so. You can conserve a significant amount of energy this way.
It will pay off over time if you spend more on green efficient products in the future. Though the newer technologies are often much more expensive than standard items, the up-front investment will often save tons later in the form of lower energy bills. It also results in long-lasting environmental benefits.
Ask your electric company for tips and advice on how to cut your electric bill. Utility companies provide some powerful tools online to measure and control your electricity usage. Look into programs that help you buy energy-efficient appliances.
Green Energy
You can save energy by setting your heat to 60 degrees at night or when you aren’t home. At this temperature, your home is not using much energy. This results in saving money and energy.
In summary, green energy is a hot topic right now. Green energy can include renewable sources of energy that are beneficial for the environment. If you remember the tips you just read, you can begin using green energy at home just like everyone else is doing.
You can also save money by installing a thermostat that is programmable. These thermostats can be pre-programmed and regulate the temperatures in the home throughout the year. They can also be programmed for different temperatures based on whether it’s night or day.
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