Many people want to have a greener lifestyle, but just don’t know where to start. There are plenty of ways that consumers can use renewable energy sources to protect the environment. The following article will describe some of those green energy solutions.
Switch to a solar water heater to heat your pools, showers, hot tubs and kitchen faucets to save money. 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. By doing certain upgrades to your home, you can often earn extra incentives and even cut backs on your energy bill.
Replace and clean furnace filters yearly, and check them monthly. Also, put filters on vents that dispense warm air. Register filters will help prevent debris increasing efficiency.
Speak to a technician to find out if your fuel oiled heating can be changed to an alternative fuel, such as biodiesel. Many heating systems are able to change over to some biodiesel use without needing modifications or extra parts. Biodiesel runs more efficiently, burns more clean, and costs you less during the winter.
A solar water heater may be a viable option in your home. If you live where freezing temperatures aren’t prevalent, you can purchase a system that can circulate water via a solar heater prior to being pumped to your home. Having a conventional heater as a back up if you expect a surge in hot water use can be wise.
Try drying your laundry outside in the sun whenever possible, rather than using a dryer. Using the sun can make clothes smell a lot better. Laundry will smell fresher and cleaner, much more so than when they were in the dryer. Additionally, you will see a noticeable decrease in your utility bills.
Solar Power
When looking at solar power, know the difference between passive solar power and active. When it comes to active power, the energy is stored for later use, while passive doesn’t need expensive cells in order to store power. To use active power, you must install mechanical systems, cells and solar panels. Passive energy is about using windows and insulation to keep your home warm and well-lit.
Pay careful attention to rebates that may help you save money on renewable energy. In some cases, the local utility company will offer rebates for the cost of the upgrades. The federal government offers tax write-offs and other credits in return for your changes. These offers make installing and using a green energy system much more affordable.
LED lights should be used during the next holiday season. A U.S. Department of Energy study shows that people waste a lot of energy on traditional Christmas lights. One study conducted by the Department of Energy found that if everyone in the U.S. switched to these lights, more than two billion kilowatt hours worth of power would be saved. That’s a large amount of electricity–it would power 200,000 homes over the course of the year. Your holiday power bill will be smaller too!
Another great idea would be to use bio-fuels for house heating. Bio-fuels consist of vegetable fat, animal fat, oils and wood. If you have a propane furnace, you may be able to have a professional retrofit your furnace to work with biofuel blend. You would be able to use anywhere from 20 to 99 percent biodiesel. However, it is important that you seek professional advice before any attempt is made to utilize this fuel.
A microwave is a more energy efficient appliance than a stove, so consider using it more often. The stove and oven use a lot more energy to cook foods. Microwaves have a bed reputation because they tend to produce lackluster food and emit radiation, but the fact of the matter is that making use of them can greatly reduce your energy costs.
Buy energy-efficient windows and replace your old ones. These have many benefits, such as reduced spending on energy bills, a quieter home, and less condensation on the interior of your windows.
One of the key topics facing our government is finding alternative options for our energy sources as we are forced to turn away from oil. Learning how to properly take advantage of renewable energy is an important step to decreasing our dependence on oil. When armed with the proper information, you can make informed decisions about green energy technologies. By using this article’s advice, you can start being greener today!