Many people are looking to live a green but really have no idea where to start. There are many ways that renewable and alternative energy sources can protect the environment. The article below discusses some great information on how you can incorporate green energy into your life now.
Use a solar water heater to keep your pools, tubs and plumbing full of piping hot, but cheap, water. Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat water resulting in energy savings. You may get tax deductions to offset the expense of installing some of this technology.
When drawing up the landscaping plans for a garden path or patio, think of solar powered lamps as an option. These lamps are inexpensive and do not require any kind of power besides sun exposure. This will save you a ton of energy!It also means you don’t need to run wires outside to hook up lights.
There are government grants that can help people invest in green energy. Check out your local government so that you can see what programs are available in your area. You may qualify for installation of solar power at little to no cost.
Wear natural fabrics in the summertime instead of cranking up the air conditioner. Natural fabrics, including cotton, cause moisture to move away from the body, which means it stays cooler. Choose lighter colors so that you feel cooler and can resist turning up the air conditioning.
Solar panels can be an easy addition to your home that helps you and your family go green. There are a few things that should be further looked in to before doing this.The most important thing that needs to be taken into consideration is to determine how much your home is exposed to sunlight.
The sun will dry your clothes a great smell. They will smell fresher than anything coming out of a dryer. You will also be saving money on utility bills by doing this.
Cover your windows when no one is at home. This will keep the house cool and reduce energy costs. Pay particular attention to covering the windows on the south side of your house. They typically admit the most sun. Think about covering all of your windows with different types of shades and curtains.
A good way to save money is to only turn on your dishwasher unless it is completely full.Don’t run it with only a few dishes inside. You may be shocked to learn the number of dishes that can handle in one load.
Storm Windows
If you aren’t using an appliance, turn it off. When you leave any room, turn off lights, tvs, computers or any other electrical devices. A power strip offers a handy way to shut down multiple devices at once, and it prevents passive electrical use due to standby modes.
Storm doors and storm windows help to better air flow in the home. Storm windows are good at cutting down on the cool air drafts filtering into openings. Homes equipped with storm windows and doors increase in energy efficiency of up costing you a lot less on your utility bills.
One of the best ways to go green is by dressing warmly. A sweater that is light can provide 2 degrees of extra warmth, and a heavy sweater adds 4 degrees. You do not have to dress lightly at home, so put on a sweater and increase your savings.
When you plan a solar system for your home, try calculating what the energy generation of your system will be when you use hours worth of sun in the winter. When you do this, you understand how much you should be consuming on a daily basis during winter, and you won’t become surprised one day. Net usage plans let you receive money for generated energy!
Try receiving as much as you can via email. In other words, try to be paperless all the time.
A solar oven is a fun and effective way to bake. You can make one from an old window, a box, and pieces of aluminum foil. These makeshift ovens can achieve temperatures of 300 degrees or more with no help from traditional energy sources, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
If you are not sure about making improvements to your home, hire professionals that can look over your systems and offer you ideas of what you can do to make your home more green. They should be able to inform you about extra expenses you are paying for inefficient appliances, as well as the amount it would cost to upgrade to newer, energy-efficient models.
There are a lot you can do if you want to save energy. Setting your water heater’s temperature to a maximum 120 F will also be an energy saver. Every little thing you do will help.
Write yourself reminders to stay on top of new energy efficiency goals, and check each bill against last year to see if improvements were made. For instance, if you make a conscious effort to cut down on your water or electricity usage, you are also likelier to turn off appliances or unused lights.
Replace any old major appliances with new Energy Star rated appliances. ENERGY STAR ratings mean that the appliance has met standards of the EPA and is especially crafted to use less energy than older models. Refrigerators and freezers use 20% less energy and dishwashers use 40% less. Energy Star rated washing machines save at least 50% of the energy used by the older styles and also save a lot of water.
Green Energy
The introduction to this article emphasized the fact that as the world reaches peak oil, green energy is going to become more and more important to our survival as a species. With the correct information, it is a lot easier to start incorporating green energy options into your life. Utilize advice found in this article, and you can enjoy a greener life today!
Thaw foods that are frozen in the fridge. You will thaw your food in a safer manner and your fridge will not have to work hard with the frozen items inside. This could lower your total energy usage.