You can find a lot of ways to save on the amount of energy you consume, you’d be shocked at all the methods that are available. The following article will give you advice on how you can use green energy and take advantage of its benefits.
Solar water heaters are a great option and can significantly decrease the cost involved with heating all of the water in your home. Using electricity or gas to heat water is not terribly efficient, but water heaters that use solar power maintain water temperatures using only the sun’s rays by way of solar panels. Making some of these changes will cost you some money up front, but you can recoup some of these costs with tax deductions for using green energy.
Government grants help customers purchase these eco-friendly technologies. Speak with the government in your area about these programs. You can qualify for installation of solar power at little to no cost.
Solar Panels
Have solar panels installed on your home for an easy, renewable way to power some or all of your home’s appliances. Before you do this, you should research just a few things first. A big consideration is how much sunlight does your home typically receive? If your home does not get a lot of sunlight, then solar panels will be pretty useless.
Replace or clean your furnace filter at least once every 90 days, and check it once per month for build-up. You should put filters in registers that are warm-air too. These filters keep children’s toys, dirt or dust from clogging the heating ducts.
Window Coverings
Window coverings should remain closed while you are away. This keeps your house cool and your energy costs down when you’re not there. Generally, the south-facing windows get the most sun because of their position. Therefore, it is especially important to use heavy window coverings on these windows.
When you are not using something, turn it off. When you leave any room, turn off lights, tvs, computers or any other electrical devices. Get a power strip so you can turn off all of your electronics at the same time, rather than letting energy get wasted in standby mode.
If you would like to reduce the cost of your hot water, use solar energy. Solar hot-water systems can reduce your energy bills significantly. You have a choice between both an indirect or direct circulation system. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.
Keep your refrigerator in good condition. Refrigerators take lots of energy to run, so it’s crucial to make sure it is running effectively. Make dusting the coils part of your weekly cleaning routine. It’s important to check that the seal is tight and clean around the refrigerator door.
Dress in warm clothes to cut costs! A thin sweater will provide you with two degrees of additional heat, while a heavier item will add four. There’s no reason you can’t bundle up in the privacy of your own home, so put on a sweater and cut down your energy bill!
Make reminders for yourself to set new energy efficiency targets, and be sure you examine each utility bill that comes in against last year’s bill to see if gains are being made. The more aware you are of using energy, the easier it is to reduce your energy use. For instance, if your stated goal is to reduce your consumption of electricity and water, you are more apt to remember to turn off the lights and shut off the faucet when not using them.
You should heat your home with biofuel. Biofuels are usually composed of vegetable fats, animal fats, wood and oil. You can hire a professional to adjust your propane furnace to be capable of using any type of fuel you desire. Up to 99% can be biodiesel. If you decide that you want to use this type of fuel to heat your home, make sure that you talk to a professional first.
Switching your boiler is a great energy saving tip. Old boilers were created without considering energy consumption, and new boilers are more efficient. Newer models have multiple benefits; not only can they lower your energy bills, but they often create a lower amount of carbon dioxide, which can will be lot better for your family’s health.
Energy Star
Trade in your old major appliances for new ones with the Energy Star rating. This rating is given only to energy efficient appliances that are guaranteed to save energy over standard appliances like the ones you are replacing. The amount of energy saved varies by appliances; you can save a lot of energy on your washing machine, refrigerator and dishwasher use if you switch to Energy Star appliances.
There is no reason you shouldn’t be able to use the tips from this article since they are so easy to do. Using green energy will make you feel better and begin providing benefits quickly.