Implementing a green lifestyle has many benefits for you and the environment you live in. You will be able to make your home energy efficient while also reducing your electric bill. Read this article so you can conserve energy at home.
If you want to preserve energy, keep your windows so they are shaded from sunlight. Use curtains or blinds as an alternative. If you do these things, you will cut your use of air conditioning throughout the warm months, as your home will be a bit cooler. Energy and money are both saved this way.
If you use oil to heat your home, see if biofuel can be used instead. Many heating systems are able to change over to some biodiesel use without needing modifications or extra parts. Biodiesel can assist you in cutting your environmental impact when it is cold, because it burns more efficiently and cleaner than petroleum.
Instead of using the dryer, dry your laundry outdoors when weather permits. The sun can dry clothes quickly without using any power, with the added benefit of making your clothes smell extra-fresh. Your clothes will smell fresher when dried naturally rather than in the dryer. In addition, you will save a lot of money on your monthly utility bills.
Turn off electrical items when you’re not using them. Whenever you leave a room, get into the habit of turning off lights, televisions, and computers. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.
Using the sun to heat your water is very cost effective. Install a water heating system that uses solar power. There are systems available that circulate the heat both directly and indirectly. The indirect one is your best option if you have to worry about frozen pipes in the winter.
Energy Star
Replace old appliances with those labeled Energy Star. The Energy Star rating guarantees that the appliance you are using has been built to use much less energy than its non-rated predecessor. Energy Star ratings promise 40% less energy for dishwashers and 50% less for washing machines.
Use the microwave as much as you can to save energy while cooking. Heating up your oven will use far more energy than a quick trip through the microwave. If you can cook things in the microwave instead, do it! This will help save a lot of energy.
Water-saving toilets are easy to find and install. People have estimated that you flush about 50% of the water from your house down the toilet. An older model of toilet might use up to 5 gallons per flush, as compared to a lean 1.6 gallons for a water-saving model.
Upgrade your home’s electronics and appliances to save yourself some cash in the future. Oftentimes, green technologies are a bit more expensive than their traditional counterpart; however, investing in green electronics and appliances will pay off with savings from decreased energy consumption. It also results in long-lasting environmental benefits.
Consider switching out your home’s older windows with newer ones that are rated for superior energy efficiency. The benefits of these windows are numerous. They can reduce your energy bill, reduce the outside noise that disturbs you, lower carbon dioxide levels, and even reduce the amount of condensation that gathers on the glass.
For room that are heavily occupied, add motion detecting light sensors. They will turn off lights when people aren’t in the room. Add these sensors to your outdoor lights, as well.
To cut your energy use, set your heater to 60 degrees when away from home and while you sleep. If you heat is set at 60, you are not using much energy. This helps you minimize the amount of energy that you use and helps you save money as well.
Solar Panels
Attach solar panels to the roof of your home to make it greener. Although you may have to pay a sizeable amount to install these solar panels, you will make this money back within a few years via power savings. Once your solar panels are installed, you can generate lots of free power. It’s also possible to sell some of your excess power to nearby electric companies.
Use weatherizing techniques to improve the energy efficiency rating of your home. Insulating your home and installing more efficient windows, doors, and heating and cooling systems will let you use less energy in your home. In addition to the energy saved you will also receive a lower energy bill.
Switching to green energy options need not be difficult or expensive. You can easily save quite a bit on electricity by making only a few simple changes. Use the tips offered here, and share them so we can all do what we can for the environment.