Interested In Green Energy? This Is For You

Although many people have heard of green energy, it’s not clear what it is to most. If you don’t know where to start to lead a greener, more environmentally conscious life, you must read this article. Keep reading to find out the basics of green energy technology and how you can put it to use in your life.

When creating lightning outdoors for a garden path or patio, consider using solar-powered lamps. They are inexpensive and don’t require electricity. They also save energy. You will not have to hook up the lights to an electrical source.

You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. Before you do this though, you need to think about a few things first. Think about the amount of sunlight that hits your house on an average day. If you live in an area that gets few sunny days, or your property is full of shade trees and tall bushes, you will have trouble gaining enough solar power for your needs.

Do your best to consume the least amount of energy possible in your home. Do things like unplug any electronic device that you aren’t using that may still be plugged into an outlet. Chargers for cell phones, mp3 players, laptops and other devices draw some power when they are plugged in, regardless of whether you are actually charging the device.

If you aren’t home, use a window covering. This helps to keep your house at a cooler temperature and lower the amount of energy used. Typically windows on the southern side of the home receive the most sun. Dark drapes, or even energy-efficient lined drapes, are your best bet.

Investigate all of the energy sources your community has to offer. Compare the costs of various utilities, and take current or pending energy legislation into consideration. You might find savings by switching from electric to natural gas for heating, or to well water from city water.

Only using the dishwasher when it is full will save you money and energy. Avoid running the dishwasher when there isn’t a full load to run. You might be surprised by the number of items that you can fit in your dishwasher. Strategically load your dishwasher so that you fit in as many dishes as possible.

If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, don’t run it until it’s completely full. The dishwasher cycle uses the same amounts of water and energy, whether it is full or not. Also ensure that it is set to air-dry if you are aiming to reduce your energy consumption.

Air flow is controlled best in homes with storm windows and doors. These kinds of doors and windows reduces the amount of cold air that comes into the home. If you use storm doors or windows, you can save at least 45 percent on your electricity bills.

If you aren’t sold on making a large green energy investment at home, then bring in a professional heating expert or plumber to take a look at your existing systems. They can give you estimates on how much energy you are wasting, as well as how much it costs to upgrade.

Buy a solar oven to provide for the needs of your kitchen. Common items, such as a heavy cardboard box, some shiny foil and an old window are all that you need. Ovens like this can be assembled quickly, reach temperatures in excess of 300 degrees, and do not require any energy besides the sun.

Make sure you remind yourself to be on top of being energy efficient and check into your energy bills on a monthly and annual basis to see what the difference is. Simply being more conscious of your energy expenditures can help you to significantly reduce them. You can make the effort to reduce water and power consumption, and it will likely become a habit.

Use the microwave instead if you’d like to save energy. Heating up your oven will use far more energy than a quick trip through the microwave. So, pop your food in the microwave and avoid wasting energy to heat it.

Heat each room separately to save heating costs. The best ways to do this is by using floor heating, including a main board which lets you choose specific temperatures. This is especially convenient and effective in larger homes.

Use your ceiling fan in the winter. Switch your fans to clockwise rotation; the warm air will be pushed down toward the floor where you can feel it. It is much less costly to run your ceiling fans than it is to run your furnace.

Use light with greater responsibility to make your home greener. Try to wait as long as you can before you turn on lights in the summer months when the sun is out longer. Install dimmers so that you can adjust how much light you actually use. In other areas, consider using sensors or timers to make sure that lights are not left on for longer than needed.

Make sure the freezer and fridge are located in a place that is cool. Avoid placing these appliances in direct sunlight or near heating vents, as this will increase their average operating temperature, which in turn, requires them to run longer.

Making your own ice is a good way to reduce energy. Not only are automatic ice breakers more like to break, but they also use more energy. It is likely that their seals will have leaks as well. Make the ice yourself to avoid these issues.

A programmable thermostat is a wonderful green energy device. Programmable models allow you to automatically set the temperature for times when you are away from home or sleeping, so you are not needlessly heating or cooling an empty home. Some models even have the option to program different times for each day, they can be customized to suit your schedule.

Now that you are more informed about environmentally-friendly technologies, you are ready to take the next step and integrate it into your home. Use the ideas here to get started today with green energy in your own home. The environment will thank you, and so will your wallet.