It can be overwhelming when you think about making your home greener. It is tough to understand where to start and how to improve the environment (and your life) the most. The advice in this article will allow you to find exactly what works for your living situation.
Use a solar water heat system to lower water and heating costs. Solar water heaters use solar energy in an efficient way to heat your water. You may be eligible for tax deductions for using energy efficient upgrades.
Use natural fabrics in the summer instead of turning up the AC. Natural materials like cotton repel moisture from your skin and allow it to stay cool. Wear lighter colors since warmer ones can make you warm and cause you to rely on the A/C.
One way to be environmentally friendly is to only run the dishwasher when it is completely full. Don’t run it when there are a low number of dishes present. You might be surprised by how much you can actually fit in the dishwasher. Experiment with different ways of loading the dishwasher in order to fit in as many dishes as possible.
Maintain your refrigerator well. Because refrigerators use so much energy, it really pays to keep them working as efficiently as possible. Be sure to regularly clean out the dust around the heating coils. In addition, be sure your door seal is tight and clean.
If you are building a new home or are in the market for a new water heater, consider a tankless model. Even though these green versions of water heaters still use electricity or gas, they only need it to warm the water you’re using instead of heating it at all times. You can find tankless heaters that either supply an entire house, or just a single faucet.
Fans of green energy should limit their use of electric heaters in the winter. In order to do this, you need to do two things. First, buy the necessary clothing and slippers, to keep family members warm. Second, use a pellet stove or fireplace for heating. In addition, this is beneficial to your health, as cooler air keeps your airways from getting too dry, allowing you to breathe easier while sleeping.
Use a laptop for your computing needs rather than a power hungry desktop. You will find yourself shaving 75 percent off of the amount of electricity used for computer usage, especially if you go on the internet often. Another benefit of the laptop is that it’s portable, so it can be used anywhere.
Watch for state and federal tax incentives for upgrading your home to use renewable energy sources. Sometimes, your local utility company can give you a rebate based on what the upgrades cost. In other instances, credit or tax deductions are offered by federal or state governments. These credits and rebates will ultimately cut your costs of bringing green energy technology to your house.
Solar Oven
A solar oven is a great consideration if you are an avid baker. A solar oven is very easy to make. All you need is a window, a piece of foil and a sturdy box. These types of oven can become very hot with adequate sunlight, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
The next time you decorate your home or tree for the holiday season, use LED lights instead of standard light strands. A US study shows If everyone were to switch to LED lights, the country as a whole would save 2 billion kwh per year. That amount of electricity could power 200,000 homes for an entire year. All that said, you can at least save some money on your own energy costs!
Each home’s layout is different and located in different places. With all of the different variables, green energy technology will vary significantly for each area. Some technologies can work in any location, while others are site-specific. When you see tips that fit your current scenario, make use of them wisely.