Going green does not have to cost a lot of money or take up too much time. Simply making a few changes to your home can cut electricity costs, and offer numerous benefits to the environment. Keep reading to discover how green energy can be used for your advantage, as well as making a permanent positive impact on the environment.
Switch to solar heating systems for water to lower your cost of indoor water. Using natural gas or electricity is not as efficient as solar power, and solar water heaters can keep the water temperature steady. Many of these improvements will cost you a bit up front, but the cost savings and tax deductions will usually more than offset that cost.
Make your home more energy efficient by unplugging your unused electronic devices. Chargers for cell phones, mp3 players, laptops and other devices draw some power when they are plugged in, regardless of whether you are actually charging the device.
Replace or clean your furnace filters yearly, and recheck them monthly. Also, put filters on vents that dispense warm air. Doing so will prevent debris in heating ducts and it reduces energy.
Research the different energy sources available in your community. 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 can benefit you to use natural gas instead of electricity, for example.
If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, do not operate before it fills up. Dishwashers consume a similar amount of water and electricity regardless of whether it contains one dish or 20. Try using the energy-saving air-drying setting on your dishwasher.
Degrees Warmer
One very easy way to save money on your heating bills is to dress more warmly around the house during the winter months. Even just a lightweight sweater keeps you two degrees warmer, and a heavyweight sweater will keep you four degrees warmer. There is no need to be fashionable while at home watching TV, so put on some layers and put some money back in your pocket!
Make use of energy-efficient products to save both money and energy. Installing efficient windows and doors, window coverings, and insulation are just some of the ways to save big. These products can assist you in reducing cooling and heating costs.
Look for rebates for green-energy technology installations. Local utility companies often offer rebates for upgrades. In other cases, there may be tax deductions or credits available from either the state or federal government. Rebates and tax credits can make it a lot cheaper to upgrade your home, to make it more energy efficient.
Opt for emails over paper whenever possible; get on no-mail lists for catalogs and junk mail. To put it more simply, use paper as little as you can. This helps to lower the energy costs of businesses as they communicate, and you can save energy as well. An added bonus is that everyone benefits by the protection of our environment.
If you want to live a life that is greener, there are many things that can be done to save the planet’s energy. Start with the simplest methods, such as setting your heating thermostat to 60 degrees while you are away from home, and cleaning your furnace filters every few months. Cutting your water heater temperature down to 120 degrees is another way to conserve energy and see smaller utility bills. No change is too small.
When you put up lights during the holidays, avoid the normal light strands and hang LED lights instead. The use of LED lights reduces the use of electricity according to research. The Department of Energy estimates that everyone can save well over 2 billion kilowatts including hours of power and energy if everyone did this type of change. That’s enough electricity to power 200,000 houses for a whole year. If nothing else, you can cut down your power bill!
Energy Star Rated
If you are purchasing new appliances, try to aim for Energy Star rated ones. This rating will guarantee than your appliance is using less energy! Refrigerators and freezers that are Energy Star rated uses approximately twenty percent less energy. While dishwashers and washing machines can save up to fifty percent on energy bills.
Use your microwave whenever you can reasonably use it. Ovens and stoves use lots more energy to prepare food than microwaves. Take advantage of the microwave when you can.
Even if you don’t agree that we should be concerned about global warming, you can still benefit from green energy technology. Using some of the ideas above, you can make changes one at a time can save money yearly on your electric bill.