Going green is rightfully becoming a popular movement. Greener sources of energy can really work to lower your utility bills, as well as provide many benefits for the environment. By taking the time to read the following article, you will find some information that you can put to use in your home right away.
Stay Cooler
Wear natural fabrics during the summer in order to avoid wasting energy on air conditioning. Fabrics like cotton naturally draw moisture away from the skin, allowing it to stay cooler. Lighter colored fabrics will help you stay cooler without needing to turn on the air conditioner.
Solar panels can be easily installed on your home and are used to collect energy from the sun for use in your home. However, before doing this, you need to consider a few things. You should definitely consider how much sun your home is exposed to. If you home is shaded, the amount of energy collected from solar panels will be greatly reduced.
Clean your furnace filters regularly and replace them at least one time a year. It’s a good call to add filters to warm air registers. This will keep everything out of the air ducts, keeping your energy efficiency high.
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. If your laundry detergent is a high quality brand, the use of cold water won’t affect the cleanliness of your clothing. Be sure to always do a full load of clothes when you wash.
Turn off electrical items when you’re not using them. When you leave a room, shut off the lights, TV, computer, game systems, etc. If you run your electronics through a power strip, you can turn everything off in that room with one switch.
Using the sun to heat your water is very cost effective. Get a solar hot-water system. There are direct circulation systems and indirect ones. If your pipes freeze when it’s cold, the best option is the indirect system.
Take time to maintain your fridge properly. Refrigerators use a large amount of electricity, and keeping it in good condition ensures this energy footprint is as low as it can be. Keep heating coils dust free. Check the door seal for dirt, debris and leaks.
Storm Doors
Storm doors and storm windows help to better control air flow in the home. Storm doors and windows stop drafts from letting in so much cold air. Storm windows and doors boosts energy efficiency as much as 45%, which can cut electricity costs.
Fans of green energy should limit their use of electric heaters in the winter. Rather, purchase some warmer clothes for your family and use a pellet stove or fireplace to heat up the living areas. It is better to sleep in cooler air, it helps you breathe, and keeps your airways moist.
Dressing in warm attire can be a great way to cut energy costs while embracing green energy. A sweater that is heavy adds 4 more degrees of warmth, and a lighter sweater adds 2 degrees. It’s not necessary to dress good at home, so grab a sweater to save money.
Unless you’re freezing to death, don’t turn the heat all the way up. Wear sweatpants and a sweater if you are chilly. This saves you from using energy that would be required to sustain heat at that high level.
Write reminders for energy-efficient goals and check your utility bills. Simply by being aware of your energy costs will help you be more efficient in your energy output. For instance, should you consciously decide to decrease your electricity or water use, you are also likelier to turn off appliances or unused lights.
To save energy during cooking, use your microwave whenever it’s feasible. Cooking food using the stove or the oven consumes a large amount of power. Take advantage of the microwave when you can.
A water heater that provides hot water on demand is a wonderful appliance for green energy. Traditional water heaters heat water all day long, even when hot water is not needed; this wastes energy. The water heaters that heat on-demand only heat water that is immediatly needed and save a lot on energy costs.
60 Degrees
Putting the temperature to 60 degrees when you’re sleeping or away from home is a great energy-saving tip. At 60 degrees, your home uses far less energy than keeping the temperature higher. The resulting effect is energy usage cuts and money saved.
Now it is up to you to apply what you have learned to make your home a greener place. Becoming more green can reduce your bills and have a positive impact on the environment at the same time. Use this advice to make your home more efficient and greener.