You might have read about the positive aspects of implementing a solar system to your home for energy conservation and financial savings. There are a ton of incentives for making the switch, from environmental benefits to government grant programs. This article gives you information on how and why to purchase solar panels.
You might be able to get a government grant to finance your green energy installation. Contact your local government for more information of programs near you. 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.
You can save electricity by unplugging chargers when they are not in use. Mp3, cell phone, laptop, and various other device chargers draw power when they’re plugged in, no matter if it’s charging or not.
Every year, replace your furnace’s filters, and every month, see if they require a cleaning. It is also a good idea to install filters on warm-air registers. This helps keep debris (or Hot Wheels cars) from getting into heating ducts and reducing efficiency.
If your home is heated with fuel oil, ask a technician if you can switch to biodiesel. Some current systems can use forms of biodiesel without the need for modifications. When you use biodiesel it burns a lot cleaner than conventional petroleum, which reduces the impact your home has on energy during the colder months of the year.
Heating your water with the power of the sun can be very efficient. Using a solar water heater to warm your water with the energy of the sun works to save money and energy. It’s a good idea to use a supplemental water heater, however, if you cannot count on constant sunshine or if your hot water consumption is high.
Check out all the different resources your community has available for energy. Find out what the cost would be to switch, how much it would cost to maintain, and whether your government has any legislation regarding its use. It might be good to switch to natural gas or well water, as an example.
An easy way to cut energy costs and go green is to dress warm. Wearing a sweater can make you feel two to four degrees warmer, depending on the thickness of the sweater. The more layers you wear at home, the less energy you will need to use heating your house.
Keep track of your watt usage. Try using gadgets like the Kill-A-Watt and the Watt Minder to see what in your home uses too much energy. Gadgets can be set to give you the energy-usage amounts for hours, months or years. It gives concrete information about how much energy the appliance is wasting.
There are a lot of things you can do if you want reduce your environmental footprint on the planet. You don’t have to invest a lot of time or money; simply clean out your furnace filters and adjust your thermostat while you’re gone. Reducing the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees could save you a lot of money as well. Every little thing you do helps!
Your electric company can assist you in making your home energy-efficient. A lot of them have the option on their website that will show you how much energy your household is using. They may also show ways you can lower your energy usage. They may also have programs to help you purchase energy efficient appliances and light bulbs.
If you can, replace your windows for those that are energy-efficient. New windows provide a variety of benefits, including reduced energy bills, less noise pollution from outside, less carbon dioxide in your home, and less window condensation.
Solar Power
Put solar panels on the roof to make the home greener. Adding solar panels does require a significant investment amount up front, but the cost savings of using solar power over several years will more than make up for it. Once the panels are in place, solar power is free. In some cases, you might be able to sell excess power your panels produce to local utility companies.
You can also save money by installing a thermostat that is programmable. These types of thermostats have settings that will regulate the temperature depending on whether it’s winter or summer. Depending on your preferences, you could also set it to change temperatures for day or night.
As you have learned, choosing green energy for your home has many more benefits beyond the savings you will see in your monthly bill. They can by bought and installed fairly easily, and typically last a number of years. Solar panels are a good way to be green and provide a much needed update for your home.