How You Can Benefit From Green Energy
Making the switch to green energy has many home and environmental benefits. A few simple changes will make your home efficient and save you money on your utility bills. Continue reading to find some great advice to help you green your energy.
Look for skilled professionals to do your work. Before installing a "green" energy system make sure it's going to save you money. If there isn't alot of information available about how energy efficient a product is, be careful of it.
A solar oven is a fun and effective way to reduce your energy needs for cooking. You can make one from an old window, cardboard box, and tin foil. Ovens like this can be assembled quickly, reach temperatures in excess of 300 degrees, and do not require any energy besides the sun.
Investing in a washing machine that is front loading is a great way to go green. Not only do they consume less water than a typical top-loader, they are also more efficient in cleaning your laundry. You will end up saving a lot of energy, water and money.
When away from home, cover the windows. This cools the house and cuts energy costs. Generally, the south-facing windows get the most sun because of their position. Try using coverings on all of the windows, such as dark curtains, roman shades, or some roller shades.
The next time you decorate your home or tree for the holiday season, use LED lights instead of standard light strands. The use of LED lights reduces the use of electricity according to research. We could save at least a couple billion kilowatt hours if each person would make this change. That amount of power could run 200,000 homes for one full year. If nothing else, you can cut down your power bill!
Although this may seem like common sense, many people still keep the lights, appliances and electronics on when they are not using them. If you make this a habit, your energy bills could be greatly reduced. Think about what you do before you do it, and turn off those lights and appliances when they are not in use.
Solar water heaters are an inexpensive and efficient way to heat your home's water. 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. However, it's best to keep a traditional heater for times when you need a lot of heated water, or if the sun does not come out.
Think about trying dehumidifiers. Drier air feels colder than humid air. When it gets too hot, use a dehumidifier prior to using the air conditioner since this costs less and can make a difference. This may let you avoid using the air conditioner as frequently.
Appliances with the Energy Star certification bear a distinctive logo that makes them easy to identify. Appliances that have been ENERGY STAR rated follow energy consumption guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Department of Energy plus those of Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR products are useful for tax credits.
Decrease prices on green technology by demanding access to those products. Use your leverage as a conscious consumer to demand technologies that are good for the environment. The more you show interests and buy environmentally friendly products, the more they will be used. It will also encourage manufacturers to change their manufacturing practices to maintain profitability.
Heat each room separately rather than all at once to save money. The best way to accomplish this is to get a floor heating solution with a main board that allows you to monitor different areas and choose a specific temperature. For large homes, this is especially useful.
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. It may be beneficial to switch from electric heat to natural gas heat, or from city water to well water, for example.
As you should now see, updating your home with green technology isn't necessarily going to break the bank. Sometimes, small changes to the home can pay off handsomely. Use the tips offered here, and share them so we can all do what we can for the environment.
Look for skilled professionals to do your work. Before installing a "green" energy system make sure it's going to save you money. If there isn't alot of information available about how energy efficient a product is, be careful of it.
A solar oven is a fun and effective way to reduce your energy needs for cooking. You can make one from an old window, cardboard box, and tin foil. Ovens like this can be assembled quickly, reach temperatures in excess of 300 degrees, and do not require any energy besides the sun.
Investing in a washing machine that is front loading is a great way to go green. Not only do they consume less water than a typical top-loader, they are also more efficient in cleaning your laundry. You will end up saving a lot of energy, water and money.
When away from home, cover the windows. This cools the house and cuts energy costs. Generally, the south-facing windows get the most sun because of their position. Try using coverings on all of the windows, such as dark curtains, roman shades, or some roller shades.
The next time you decorate your home or tree for the holiday season, use LED lights instead of standard light strands. The use of LED lights reduces the use of electricity according to research. We could save at least a couple billion kilowatt hours if each person would make this change. That amount of power could run 200,000 homes for one full year. If nothing else, you can cut down your power bill!
Although this may seem like common sense, many people still keep the lights, appliances and electronics on when they are not using them. If you make this a habit, your energy bills could be greatly reduced. Think about what you do before you do it, and turn off those lights and appliances when they are not in use.
Solar water heaters are an inexpensive and efficient way to heat your home's water. 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. However, it's best to keep a traditional heater for times when you need a lot of heated water, or if the sun does not come out.
Think about trying dehumidifiers. Drier air feels colder than humid air. When it gets too hot, use a dehumidifier prior to using the air conditioner since this costs less and can make a difference. This may let you avoid using the air conditioner as frequently.
Appliances with the Energy Star certification bear a distinctive logo that makes them easy to identify. Appliances that have been ENERGY STAR rated follow energy consumption guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Department of Energy plus those of Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR products are useful for tax credits.
Decrease prices on green technology by demanding access to those products. Use your leverage as a conscious consumer to demand technologies that are good for the environment. The more you show interests and buy environmentally friendly products, the more they will be used. It will also encourage manufacturers to change their manufacturing practices to maintain profitability.
Heat each room separately rather than all at once to save money. The best way to accomplish this is to get a floor heating solution with a main board that allows you to monitor different areas and choose a specific temperature. For large homes, this is especially useful.
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. It may be beneficial to switch from electric heat to natural gas heat, or from city water to well water, for example.
As you should now see, updating your home with green technology isn't necessarily going to break the bank. Sometimes, small changes to the home can pay off handsomely. Use the tips offered here, and share them so we can all do what we can for the environment.
