It’s important to keep our environment clean and resources abundant for future generations. If you apply green energy use in your home, you can take care of both your wallet and the environment. The tips below will give you some great ideas on how you can make green energy work for your home.
You can make a difference and save energy simply by taking steps to use less energy every day. If there is an appliance you aren’t using, then unplug it. Turn off lights and the television when you are finished using them. This simple tip will save you money as well.
Wearing Natural
Cut down on air conditioning by wearing natural fibers in the summer. By wearing natural fabrics, such as cotton, you will keep moisture away from your skin and help it stay cooler. Lighter colored fabrics will help you stay cooler without needing to turn on the air conditioner.
Do you happen to own some farmland? Farms are the perfect place to put a wind turbine. If you don’t have a farm, you might be able to rent from someone. Everyone surrounding the area where these turbines are installed are sure to benefit, and the installation doesn’t take up that much space.
Clean your furnace filters regularly and replace them at least one time a year. It is also a good idea to install filters on warm-air registers. This can prevent anything from getting caught in the ducts.
If you aren’t using something, turn it off. When you are ready to leave a room, go around and turn off appliances such as computers, televisions, and most importantly, the overhead light. Use a power strip for your home electronics, and turn it off when you aren’t using the equipment. If something is left in standby mode, it is still wasting power.
Do maintenance on your fridge to save money. The refrigerator hogs energy, so it should work well. Make a regular habit of removing dust from the refrigerator’s heating coils. Also, check the door to be sure it is sealed tightly.
Passive Solar Power
Take the time to learn about active, and passive solar power. Active power is energy that gets stored and is used later. Passive is energy that can be used without expensive cells. Active solar power needs to have cells, mechanical systems, and solar panels installed. Passive solar power, on the other hand, just draws heat from the sun and stores it in your walls for heating purposes.
Get as many pieces of mail electronically as possible. This will help you use less paper and help the planet. Reducing your consumption of paper saves energy on production costs, along with the costs of shredding documents in your home. In addition, it also protects the environment.
Monitor your electricity consumption watt by watt. Try using gadgets like the Kill-A-Watt and the Watt Minder to see what in your home uses too much energy. Plug your appliances into these devices and they can let you know how much energy they use in an hour, a month, or a year. It gives concrete information about how much energy the appliance is wasting.
Leave yourself reminder notes to decrease energy usage, and frequently compare past bills with current ones to see if you’re making strides. Just being conscious of the energy that you use will help you reduce them significantly. Taking the time to use less resources will help you get into a habit of preventing energy waste through unattended appliances.
Upgrading your home’s boiler is a smart way to save energy. Most older boilers weren’t made with energy conservation in mind, but newer ones are often fairly energy efficient. Not only will you reduce the carbon dioxide being emitted, but your energy costs can be greatly lessened.
Water-saving toilets can get you started on a greener lifestyle. It is estimated that up to 50 percent of a home’s water use is literally flushed down the toilet. Older models used 5 or more gallons of water to flush; today’s water saving models uses a little over 1.5 gallons per flush. That is a 70 percent water savings.
Although this may seem like common sense, many people still keep the lights, appliances and electronics on when they are not using them. By doing this on a daily basis, a person’s energy bill can be greatly reduced. Make a conscious effort to ensure your lights and appliances are switched off when not being used.
If you care about the environment, then you are going to want to apply the tips that you’ve learned today. Reduce your carbon footprint by maximizing your home’s energy efficiency. The money you save can make it all worth it.