Just the thought of making changes to a home in order to make it more green can be overwhelming to many homeowners. Figuring out how to start and what you need to help yourself and the environment can be hard. Take the time to read through the following tips to find the things that are best for your home.
Solar Panels
Solar panels can be an excellent investment for the typical homeowner. Consider some things before you do this, as you will benefit from the thought process. What you need to know first is how much of the sun does your home generally receive? If you live in an area with a lot of shade, or worse, a lot of cloudy days, you’ll be unable to make full use of solar panels.
Wash clothes with cold water, as much as you can. Nearly 90% of the energy that is consumed when you wash your clothes is taken up heating the water. If your detergent is decent, cold water will be as effective as hot when cleaning your laundry. Don’t forget to only wash clothes when you have a full load s you are as efficient with your energy as possible!
Consider solar water heaters to make your home more energy efficient. If you live in a region that is not at risk for freezing, it is possible to install a system that pumps water into a solar heater, then pumps it into your house. But, be sure to keep a regular water heater for a backup should the sun not come out or for times that you need large amounts of hot water.
When weather is good, skip the energy-hogging dryer and dry your clothes on an outdoor clothesline. The sun gives your clothes a great smell. Sun-drying clothes gives them a fresh smell. You will also have lower utility bills.
Don’t waste money or energy by running a half-full load of dishes. Don’t run it with only two or three dishes inside. The dishwasher can actually fit a lot of dishes when loaded correctly. Align the dishes so several can fit inside.
Active Power
Learn the difference between passive and active solar power. Passive power is used immediately and is cheaper, but active power has the ability to store energy for later use. Active power will require a large installation process and can cost a great deal more. Passive is just used via the sun for storing the thermal energy in the walls of your home to heat it.
Instead of buying that new desktop computer, purchase a laptop, as desktops use much more electricity. That can reduce up to two-thirds of your power usage; that is especially true if you frequently use word processing or the internet. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!
If you are one of the many people who desire to live a greener life when it comes to saving our planet’s energy, there is much you can do. You don’t have to invest a lot of time or money; simply clean out your furnace filters and adjust your thermostat while you’re gone. Setting your water heater to 120 F will also be an energy saver. Every little bit helps!
Use LED lights for home and tree decorations at the holidays. The use of LED lights reduces the use of electricity according to research. The Department of Energy estimates that everyone can save well over 2 billion kilowatts including hours of power and energy if everyone did this type of change. That much electricity could power at least 200,000 home for a whole year. You can save money on your electric bill.
If you really want to take a bit out of your fuel consumption, try making more extensive use of carpools, even to destinations other than the office. Ask other parents in the neighborhood if they are interested in carpooling for their children and trade days with them. Those who live close to friends or family can go grocery shopping together.
Energy Star Rated
If you are purchasing new appliances, try to aim for Energy Star rated ones. Any Energy Star rated appliance guarantees better energy efficiency than an older one without the rating. The amount of energy saved varies by appliances; you can save a lot of energy on your washing machine, refrigerator and dishwasher use if you switch to Energy Star appliances.
One of the oldest tips in the book is to make sure that you turn off all electronics and lights when you leave any room to save energy. Turning off lights habitually will add up to great energy savings over time. There’s also the extra benefit of having a lower electric bill.
60 Degrees
To cut your energy use, set your heater to 60 degrees when away from home and while you sleep. 60 degrees is the target temperature at which your heater will be consuming the least energy. You can save money on your utility bills by reducing your energy consumption in this way.
A good green energy tip is to regularly inspect the seals on your freezer and fridge to keep from wasting energy. Seals that are broken can cause your appliances to run more than they normally would require. This will waste energy and your money! An easy way to check to see if your seal is intact is to insert a piece of paper in the door of your refrigerator. If the paper can easily slide out, your seal needs to be replaced.
Save money on your electric bills by being stingy about light usage. During the months when sun is brightest, avoid using lights before a certain time of day. Make use of dimmers and sensors to minimize unnecessary light usage.
Every home is different. So the type of green energy that is available for every home is actually going to be different. There are some options that work for everyone, while others won’t. Find what will work for you and use it in your home.