Is Your Home As Green As It Can Be?
Making these switches to your home can be overwhelming. Figuring out how to start and what you need to help yourself and the environment can be hard. Take time to read the following guidelines to determine the things that could greatly benefit your house.
To save money on your electric bills, simply try to minimize the electricity you use. If you’re not using particular appliances, unplug them! Turn off lights, television sets and other small appliances when you are done using them. This simple tip can save you a lot of money.
In order to conserve energy, try keeping the windows shaded from the sunlight. Installing blinds and curtains will also help. Less heat will be allowed in, and your summer air conditioner costs will be greatly reduced with just these two simply steps You will save energy and money.
Wear natural fabrics instead of always using the air conditioning during summer. By wearing natural fabrics, such as cotton, you will keep moisture away from your skin and help it stay cooler. Light colors help you to feel cooler than darker or warmer colors.
Make your home more energy efficient by unplugging your unused electronic devices. 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.
Are you the owner of a farm? If so, or if you have family who does, consider renting out some of your land to a company that will install a simple wind turbine. The energy generated can benefit your entire area without taking up much room.
Clean or replace the filters on your furnace once each year, and check once a month to see if they need to be cleaned. It is also a good idea to install filters on warm-air registers. This can prevent anything from getting caught in the ducts.
Think about buying solar water heaters for heating your water. This works best in areas where the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing. Solar energy systems circulate water through solar heaters and then pump it into the house. Don’t get rid of your conventional water heater though; you may need it if it’s cloudy when you’re ready to use hot water.
Biodiesel fuel might be an option if your current heat source is fuel oil. You might even find that you can switch your system to partial biodiesel without having to purchase parts or hire a contractor to perform modifications. Bio-diesel is more efficient and burns cleaner than conventional petroleum, which in turn, reduces the environmental impact from your home during the winter.
Make use of your dishwasher only when you have a full load in order to save energy and money. Avoid running the dishwasher when there isn’t a full load to run. The dishwasher can actually fit a lot of dishes when loaded correctly. By properly loading a dishwasher you will ensure that the maximum amount of dishes can be washed using the least amount of energy.
Make sure when you aren’t using something to turn it off. When you leave a room, take the time to turn off lights, the tv or the computer. Use power strips for home electronics. As well, turn this off when you’re not using your electronics. Products in standby mode still waste power.
Replace your water heater and get a tankless model. While heaters that are tankless still need electricity or gas, they will not heat more water than you need, which is what a water tank heater does. You can get a tankless water heater to heat your entire home’s water supply or you can get a smaller one that heats only water that comes out of a particular faucet.
Of course, no home’s energy usage is exactly the same. With all of the different variables, green energy technology will vary significantly for each area. There are some green solutions that one homeowner may implement but that may not work for another. Use the tips in this article to determine which technologies will work for you.
Be aware of federal and state rebates for updating your home with renewable energy. Ask your utility company if they offer rebates for green energy upgrades. In some cases, there could be credits or tax deductions either from the federal or state government. All of these rebates will add up, potentially covering the cost of your renovation!
