Green Energy: Technology That Is Good For The Home And The Earth

Beginning to use green energy does not have to be difficult. Find out where you should begin and compare your different options before investing in anything. Read the following tips and you can find ways to make your home a greener place.

Lower heating costs with solar heating systems for your pools or hot tubs. Using electricity or gas to heat water is not terribly efficient, but water heaters that use solar power maintain water temperatures using only the sun’s rays by way of solar panels. These types of upgrades, while more costly at first, may qualify you for a green energy deduction on your taxes.

Consider installing a solar water heating system. If your location does not get too cold, purchase a system that puts the water in a solar heater prior to coming to your home. However, consider that you may still need a traditional heater if you will be using a great deal of hot water, or if the sun does not come out for some time.

During summer, try drying clothes on a clothesline instead of the dryer. The sun can give clothing an incredible smell. They will smell better than anything coming out of a dryer. You will also save on your utilities bills by line drying your laundry.

If you want to have hot water, but at a lower cost, then check into solar energy. Upgrade your hot water system to one that’s solar-powered. It is possible to use either a direct or indirect circulation system. The indirect option is probably your best bet since you will not have to think about frozen pipers during the winter.

When you are installing a solar energy system, you want to be sure the batteries you will be using to store the solar power are situated as close to the solar cells as possible. Doing this will help prevent power loss within the cable. It also prevents the cable covering the cells, which would reduce their generation capability.

Get rid of your old tank-style water heater, and replace it with a modern tankless model. While they do require energy to heat the water, they require only a small amount of energy to heat a smaller amount of water. You can get a tankless heater that will supply the whole house or one that supplies a single hot-water faucet.

Make reminders for yourself to set new energy efficiency targets, and be sure you examine each utility bill that comes in against last year’s bill to see if gains are being made. Simply by being aware of your energy costs will help you be more efficient in your energy output. For example, if you make a conscious effort to cut down on your water or electricity usage, then you are more likely to make a habit out of shutting off unused lights or appliances.

Start carpooling to take care of many of your daily tasks. Don’t think of it as just an option for commuting to work. If you have children, organize a carpooling system with your neighbors and trade off driving days among all the participating parents. Synchronize grocery shopping trips with nearby friends and family by taking turns as the driver.

Try installing a toilet that saves water. Some studies show that flushing the toilet accounts for half the water used in a typical home. Older models used 5 or more gallons of water to flush; today’s water saving models uses a little over 1.5 gallons per flush. That is a 70 percent water savings.

A good energy product is an on demand water heater. Older water heaters are always running and always heating water whether it is needed or not, which is a waste of energy. An on-demand water heater instantly heats water as it is needed resulting in tremendous savings.

Energy Efficient

Weatherizing your home will help your home be more energy efficient. Your home will need less energy to run if you have items such as energy efficient windows and insulation. These items will also mean lower energy costs on your monthly bill.

Move your frozen foods from the freezer to the refrigerator when you are thawing them out. This is a safe way to that food, but also decreases your fridges temperature. This means less energy is needed.

A good tip for saving money and making your life a little greener is to reduce your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees F. By doing this you could save up to 10 percent off your electric bill, while still having comfortable enough water to cook and shower with.

Home energy monitors are a wise investment that will help you keep track of how energy is used in your home. This way, you can get a real-time estimate of your energy use. This can be used to predict your electric bills or to size a renewable energy system for your home. Research shows that people are likely to reduce their electricity consumption when they could see the costs associated to their appliances.

Make use of rainwater for washing dishes and flushing the toilet. This can save you cash on your utilities and make a good environmental impact. Collecting rain water isn’t difficult because all you need do is to place a number of glass jars outside before it rains, and then put a lid on the jars when they are full.

You can make small improvements to your home to make it more energy efficient, such as changing the type of light bulbs you use. Of course, you can also make large-scale improvements such as putting in solar panels. Some simple changes that you can make yourself can have a huge impact on efficiency and your energy bill. Begin by choosing one, small project.

The type of green energy system that will work for your home depends on the location and orientation of your house. Since each home has its own characteristics, what will work for one, may not work for another. Some technologies can work in any location, while others are site-specific. Research and focus on tips and ideas that work for your particular home and then make use of them.