Green energy is gaining more popularity in this recession. Using sustainable resources is a great way to keep energy costs down and reduce utility bills in hard economic times. Keep reading this article for more tips on how start living green.
Changing your heating to solar water can reduce the price to heat your water, hot tub and pool. Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat water resulting in energy savings. Many of these improvements will cost you a bit up front, but the cost savings and tax deductions will usually more than offset that cost.
Furnace filters should be replaced annually, and check them monthly for cleanliness. You should put filters in registers that are warm-air too. These filters keep children’s toys, dirt or dust from clogging the heating ducts.
When weather is good, skip the energy-hogging dryer and dry your clothes on an outdoor clothesline. You’ll love how your clothes smell after being sun-dried. They will have a much fresher smell than drying them with an appliance will provide. You will also save on your utilities bills by line drying your laundry.
Do not use your dishwasher unless it contains a full load of dishes. It makes use of a fixed amount of energy no matter the amount of dishes it has. Run your dishwasher using the energy-saving mode so that you can air-dry dishes and save energy.
Solar energy is a great way to get hot water at a low cost. There are many solar hot-water appliances to get the job done. You could choose of having an indirect or direct circulation system. The indirect system is best if you don’t want to worry about your pipes freezing in the winter.
Do maintenance on your fridge to save money. Since the refrigerator is an appliance that consumes a lot of energy, it is important to keep it in top-working order. Make sure you clean out any dust from around heating coils. Make sure door seals are clean and tight.
Storm Doors
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. Storm doors and windows dramatically reduce the amount of drafts and cold air that get into your home. Installing storm windows and doors can increase energy efficiency by up to 45%.
If you want to live greener and have a greener home, avoid running electric heaters during the winter. Wrap up your family in warmer clothes and make use of your fireplace for added warmth. In addition, this is beneficial to your health, as cooler air keeps your airways from getting too dry, allowing you to breathe easier while sleeping.
Find out about federal and local rebates for updates about renewable energy for your home. Certain utility companies will provide rebates for these upgrades. Other companies may offer tax deductions from your local or federal government. These credits and rebates could reduce the cost associated to installing green technology in your house.
Energy Star Rated
Replace any old major appliances with new Energy Star rated appliances. To receive an Energy Star rating from the government, appliances must meet minimum efficiency standards, unlike the non-rated appliances you may currently own. You will find that Energy Star rated refrigerators use about 20% less energy, and clothes washing machines use about 50% less.
One easy, common sense tip to save energy is to shot off all the lights when you exit a room. Do this at all times. It’s surprising how much energy is conserved after turning the lights off. The money that you will save is an added bonus.
One easy way to go green is to use an on-demand water heater. Instead of constantly heating water, these newer heaters heat it only as necessary so that you don’t waste energy. The on-demand water heater will heat water instantly and save you money on energy.
Attach solar panels to the roof of your home to make it greener. Adding solar panels won’t require a big investment in the beginning, and the savings will be quite significant down the road. After the panels are installed, solar energy is pretty much free. You may even be able to sell some of this energy to your local electric company.
Heat rooms separately. You can use floor heating solutions to accomplish this, and include one main board that gives you the ability to individually select the temperature in each area. If you live in a larger home, this is an effective solution.
Don’t stop using ceiling fans in the winter. Switch them to go clockwise and they will help push the warm air down, reducing demands on your heating fixture. It takes less energy to power the fan than it does your furnace.
Being aware of the amount of lights that are used in the home can make a difference when embracing green energy. During the brighter months, figure out when the sun starts to set and ask your family not to turn on lights until that time. Dimmers along with timers and light sensors can be used to lessen the amount of light you use when not needed.
Put your refrigerator in a cool place within your home. Keep them away from sunlight and heating vents, since this can increase the temperature and make them run longer.
Reducing your water heater temperature to 120 degrees can save energy and money in your home. This can save you as much as 10 percent on your monthly power bill for a family of four and will give you adequate and safe hot water temperature.
Don’t drink bottled water. Bottled water is often just repackaged tap water, and the process of bottling the water and transporting it to the store is very wasteful. If you choose not to use tap water from your area, you can buy a re-usable water bottle with a filter.
Green Energy
All of these tips make using green energy simple for the consumer, while also having a significant positive impact on the environment. Green energy technology is a fantastic way to save some money in a difficult economy. These tips will help you do that.
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