Are you the type of person who wants their impact on the environment to be minimized? Do you think it costs a fortune to invest into green energy? Stop living in the past and start living in the future, by reading the tips laid out here, so you change life in your house for the better.
Instead of using your air conditioner in the summer, try to wear fabrics that are natural. Cotton and other fabrics draw sweat from the skin and make you cool. Lighter colors also make you feel cooler.
Take advantage of government grants if you plan to invest in renewable energy sources. To find out which programs are available in your area contact your local government. Who knows, you may qualify for low or no-cost wind or solar installation. Even if you don’t qualify for a grant, you can still use these items as a tax deduction.
Wind Turbine
Do you live on a farm? If you or someone you know does, you can rent a piece of your land to a company looking to put in a wind turbine. You will benefit from the wind turbine’s free energy and it will take up minimal space.
When away from home, cover the windows. They will help to keep the temperature and the energy consumption of the house down when the house is vacant. Windows that face south tend to get more sun due to their orientation. Dark drapes, or even energy-efficient lined drapes, are your best bet.
If you aren’t using something, turn it off. When you leave any room, turn off lights, tvs, computers or any other electrical devices. Use power strips for home electronics. As well, turn this off when you’re not using your electronics. Products in standby mode still waste power.
Do not use your dishwasher unless it contains a full load of dishes. Your dishwasher consumes the same energy and water, even if it is half full. Make sure you are using the energy saving settings on your dishwasher that will air-dry your dishes.
Be sure you maintain your refrigerator properly. A refrigerator uses lots of energy so should be kept in good working condition. Make dusting the coils part of your weekly cleaning routine. You also want to make sure the door seal is tight and clean.
Keep track of how many watts you’re using. Use gadgets like the Watt Minder and the Kill-A-Watt so that you can discover what uses the most energy. If you connect an appliance to either of these devices, it can calculate the energy savings you could realize over a given period of time if you switched to green power, from an hour to a year. This lets you know how much it costs to operate an appliance.
If you’re one of many who wants to live an environmentally friendly life, there’s plenty you can do. Simply cleaning filters in the furnace and setting temperatures lower can help! Lowering the temperature of the water heater to 120 degrees will save you money too. Every small amount helps.
Switch your boiler to save more energy. Old boilers weren’t manufactured with energy-savings in mind. New ones, however, are made to be energy efficient. They not only produce less carbon dioxide, which is good for your health, but they can significantly cut your energy bill.
Use the microwave instead if you’d like to save energy. The stove and oven use a lot more energy to cook foods. So, when you’re microwaving things, remember you are saving on energy.
Bamboo Products
Look into bamboo products when purchasing wood items. Bamboo serves as a green replacement for wood. Though it is a grass, it has much more strength and durability than many commercial woods. Since bamboo grows quite fast it is one of the best renewable choices you can make. You can find a variety of bamboo products, from floors to furniture to cutting boards for the kitchen. This will reduce energy consumption for the production and recycling of manufacturing items.
What is involved with changing your house to make it greener in its use of energy, and how can you benefit? The following article will answer your questions, but it is your responsibility to use this advice. So begin as soon as possible, you’re sure to appreciate the results.