To reduce energy costs and positively impact the environment, it is wise to use wind, water of the sun to create energy. If you want to learn how to go green with your energy usage around the house, read on for some tips that can help you consume energy wisely.
Government grants help customers purchase these eco-friendly technologies. Contact your local government for more information of programs near you. Some areas provide rebates for green energy product installation, or provide tax relief as an incentive.
Solar panels that collect solar energy to be used are easy to have installed at your home. However, before doing this, you need to consider a few things. The number one to think about is the amount of sun your home gets. If you live in a shady place, or a location with a cloudy climate, solar isn’t the choice for you.
Do your best to consume the least amount of energy possible in your home. Do things like unplug any electronic device that you aren’t using that may still be plugged into an outlet. Cell phone and mp3 chargers draw energy even if they aren’t charging anything.
Every year, replace your furnace’s filters, and every month, see if they require a cleaning. Also, put filters on vents that dispense warm air. These filters keep children’s toys, dirt or dust from clogging the heating ducts.
Wash clothes with cold water. Almost 90% of energy consumption during clothes being washed is a result of the hot water usage. Most good quality laundry detergents work just as well in cold water. Also, don’t wash your clothes until you can completely fill the washer, as this saves energy over time.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, speak with a technician to see if it’s possible to change to bio-diesel. Switching to biodiesel is often doable without system modification. Biodiesel burns much cleaner, is more efficient than petroleum, and will lessen the impact your home has on the environment in wintertime.
If you are aiming to save energy and money, try running the dishwasher only when the load is completely full. Running it with half loads is wasteful. The dishwasher can actually fit a lot of dishes when loaded correctly. Strategically load your dishwasher so that you fit in as many dishes as possible.
When planning a home solar system, calculate the potential energy generation of the system using hours of sunshine in the winter. This will ensure that you are not caught short during winter, and you have excess during the summer. Be sure to get a net-usage plan with the energy company so that you can get money from them when you put the surplus energy onto their grid.
The power-storing batteries of your solar system should be installed close to the cells. Power is less likely to be lost in cables this way. It also lowers the risk of the cable casting a shadow over the cells, which reduces their ability to generate power.
Think of using a laptop computer instead of a desktop model to save on your electricity usage. Laptops use only about one quarter of the power consumption of a full desktop, and is ideal for those that use their computer for surfing the Internet or word processing. Not to mention, it can be taken anywhere thanks to its portability.
Take advantage of any federal or local rebates that you may be entitled to receive. In some cases, the local utility company will offer rebates for the cost of the upgrades. You may also get state and federal tax deductions for making your home more energy efficient. These rebates, credits, and other allowances can make it much more affordable to install renewable energy equipment on your property.
Don’t turn your heat up too far in the home, unless you need to. If it’s a bit chilly, try wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Higher levels of heat use a lot of excess energy!
Energy Star
Get rid of your old appliances and replace them with Energy Star-certified appliances. Energy Star appliances are guaranteed to use less energy than those made previously. This rating guarantees 20% less energy for freezers and refrigerators, 40% difference for dishwashers, and 50% for washing machines!
Getting started on green energy today means savings to you and the planet tomorrow. Changing to a green energy lifestyle does not have to be expensive and overly complicated, so put the advice received here to good use and embrace these changes today.