In this economy, every home owner can benefit from being frugal, and using green energy is a great way to accomplish this. Keep reading for a few great ideas on how you can convert the standard technology in your home to greener energy, enjoy greater savings in your out-of-pocket costs, and reduce your impact on the environment.
Reduce the price of heating water in pools, hot tubs and inside your home by using solar-powered heating systems. Using gas or electricity to heat water isn't efficient. However, solar water heaters use the sun to make water comfortable and reduce energy consumption. 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.
As you ready yourself to make the switch to green energy, try getting a step ahead of the game by decreasing your present energy needs. By using less energy, it will be that much easier to switch to alternative sources because you won't be using as much. Good ways to start include using less light in your home, shortening hot showers and using cool instead of hot water for laundry.
Use solar energy to provide hot water cheaply. Check into investing in a water system that is solar-powered. You have a choice between both an indirect or direct circulation system. Indirect is the best choice if you have pipes which often freeze in the winter.
Check out all the different resources your community has available for energy. Be sure to look at the legislation and incentives available for using green utilities. It may be beneficial to switch from electric heat to natural gas heat, or from city water to well water, for example.
Get rid of your old tank-style water heater, and replace it with a modern tankless model. Tankless water heaters still require power to heat the water, but they heat only the water that you want to use, rather than heating a tank of water that you're not always using. You can purchase a tankless heater for a faucet or your whole home.
Turn off all appliances. When not using appliances in your home, make it a habit to turn them off when not in use. Items such as televisions, computers, and lights should all be off so you can prevent unwanted energy use. Not only is this good for using less energy, your electric bill will be much less too!
Buy a programmable thermostat. An Energy Star programmable thermostat will regulate your home's https://www.lightingdirect.com/ temperature year-round, both day and night. Always set your thermostat a couple of degrees less than you think the temperature should be, as you won't really notice the difference in your home. An Energy Star thermostat will save you about $180 a year in heating costs.
Using cold water in your washing machine whenever possible is a great way to save energy. The reason for this is that a significant amount of http://www.my-led-lighting-guide.tumblr.com/post/146084279513/led-retrofit-catalog/ energy is required to heat water. In fact, about ninety percent of the energy consumed when washing clothes is used for heating water. Using hot water is more expensive for both you and the environment.
Perhaps you are intimidated by making an large, green energy investment. Seeking the input of a professional, such as a heating/cooling specialist or plumber can educate you on options. They can provide an estimate of how much money inefficient appliances and systems are costing you, and they can tell you what upgrading or replacing such systems will cost.
Start using batteries that have been recycled or else use rechargeable batteries. Disposable batteries are full of toxins and actually take about half of the energy they put off, in order to produce. If you are using disposable batteries, be sure to recycle them. Rechargeable batteries, however, can be used over and over again.
Try air drying both your dishes and your laundry to cut back on energy used for drying cycles. With the dishes, you need only set your dishwasher to a clean cycle then move the load to your sink-side strainer when it is done. Drying your laundry in the sun not only reduces energy used via your drier, it also results in fresher, less wrinkled clothes.
Responsibly recycling electronics is a great way to maximize resources. When people think of green energy they think of alternative energy. However, it is just as important to get the most from the non-renewable resources that we use as it is to minimize our use. Recycling electronics prevents unnecessary polluting of landfills as well as reuses resources that non-renewable.
Always have a backup power source for a wind generation system. Your system needs to be able to account for low-wind days. This backup could be another type of renewable source, such as a battery system powered by solar, or a diesel generator. Another option is to have the home plugged into the utility power grid.
An old, yet good tip, for those looking to save on energy is to turn off your lights whenever you leave a room. Turning off the lights will save a surprising amount of energy. The money that you will save is an added bonus.
Remember that buying green technology is an investment that will pay off later. Though the newer technologies are often much more expensive than standard items, the up-front investment will often save tons later in the form of lower energy bills. It also has the long-term benefit of saving the planet.
Search for an Energy Star logo when shopping for appliances in order to find the most energy-efficient ones. ENERGY STAR appliances are designed to follow guidelines from the U.S. Energy Department and those of the EPA. In many cases, you won't be able to get a tax rebate from any appliance that doesn't feature these logos.
Invest in solar power for your home. Adding a few solar panels to your roof can actually decrease the cost of heating or cooling your home by up to 50%! Talk to a professional about where best to install them on your roof, as the placement is very important to get the optimal amount of direct sunlight.
Green energy is, of course, a great way to protect our natural resources, but it is also a smart way to save you hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. Use the tips laid out here in this article, and you will soon have the greenest home in your entire neighborhood.
