Cutting back on your electricity usage is probably a lot easier than you may have thought. You will see improvements to both your finances and your energy use once you make just a few changes. The article below is here to help you get started.
Make your home more energy efficient by unplugging your unused electronic devices. Chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cell phones and other devices use power when they’re plugged in. This happens regardless of whether you’re using the device or not.
Wash clothes with cold water, as much as you can. Almost 90% of the energy you use when you do laundry is due to heating water. If your detergent is of good quality, you should have no problems using cold water. Additionally, always wash with a full load of laundry, as this helps to lower the amount of energy you use.
If you aren’t home, use a window covering. These help your home remain cool and keep your energy bill down when you are not there. More often than not, south-facing windows will let in the most sun due to their positioning. Try adding window coverings that block heat, such as shades or darker, lined curtains.
Research different sources of green energy available to your community. Compare costs, and keep in mind that new legislation exists which will sometimes reward you for using renewable energy sources. You might find that you could save money by switching from an electric furnace to a natural gas one, for instance, or from using municipal water to your own well water.
During summer, try drying clothes on a clothesline instead of the dryer. In addition to the energy savings, you clothes will smell incredible. It is a fresher smell than you would get from the dryer. You can also save money on your energy bills.
To conserve energy and save money, only run the dishwasher when you have a full load. It’s sacrilege to turn it on with just one or two dishes inside. You’ll be surprised at how many dishes a dishwasher can load. Make sure you take time to place the dishes in properly so as to maximize the space available.
Hot water can be obtained in a low cost, environmentally friendly manner through solar energy. Consider a solar water heater. Your options include direct circulation systems and indirect ones. The indirect system is a a great thing to have and you do not have to think about having frozen pipes during the winter.
It is beneficial to maintain your refrigerator to keep it working efficiently. The refrigerator hogs energy, so it should work well. Clean heating coils regularly to get rid of dust. Don’t forget to be certain to keep the seal surrounding the door tight and clean.
If you aspire to live a green, environmentally friendly lifestyle, there are many options for you. Start with the simplest methods, such as setting your heating thermostat to 60 degrees while you are away from home, and cleaning your furnace filters every few months. Reduce your water heat temperature to one hundred twenty degrees to save money as well. Every little thing you can do will help.
When decorating for the holidays you should forgo traditional lights and get LED lights instead. Research was performed by the United States. Department of Energy stated that Americans could collectively reduce their energy consumption by over 2 billion kW/h if they all changed over to LED lights. This is enough energy to power 20,000 houses in one year. At least you will be saving money on your power bill.
Incorporate the ideas you just read into your daily activities. It is the easiest way to drop your energy costs and more importantly, your energy demands. Just take one step at a time. Soon you’ll be running a much greener home than you ever expected.