Because of all the green energy information online, finding what you need can be hard. Continue reading the information that follows to begin using green energy in your home.
Changing your heating to solar water can reduce the price to heat your water, hot tub and pool. Using natural gas or electricity is not as efficient as solar power, and solar water heaters can keep the water temperature steady. While some upgrades cost more initially, they can qualify you for deductions on your tax return for using green energy.
Storm Doors
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. These special storm doors and windows prevent cold air and drafts from entering the home. Homeowners will see a significant savings on their electric bill and will benefit from an increase in the energy efficiency of their home by up to 45 percent once stormed windows and doors are installed in their homes.
Get rid of your old tank-style water heater, and replace it with a modern tankless model. Although they still use gas or electricity, they only heat on demand rather than maintaining an entire tank of hot water at all times. 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.
Dress more warmly to be green and reduce energy costs. A light sweater gives you 2 extra degrees of warmth, while a heavy sweater gives you 4 degrees. So, wear a sweater to save some money.
Active Solar Power
Understand the difference between passive and active solar power. Active solar power is stored so it can be used later, but passive doesn’t need pricey solar panel cells to store power. Active power will require a large installation process and can cost a great deal more. Passive solar power is simply making use of the sun to keep thermal energy in your walls so you can heat your home.
One way to participate in the green energy movement is buying products that are specifically designed to save energy. Ecologically friendly windows and doors can minimize the energy you need to operate your home efficiently. Your heat and cooling costs can drop dramatically by using these products.
Hire experts to check your plumbing and heating systems before investing a lot of money in installing new, greener systems. They will let you know how costly your appliances are, and they can give a detailed estimate on how much the costs will be to replace or upgrade your existing systems.
A home heating alternative to be considered is biofuel. Biofuels are made out of a variety of things, including: oil, wood, and animal/vegetable fats. If you have a propane furnace, a professional will be able to adjust your system so you can heat your home using a fuel blend. This would be about 20-99 percent biodiesel. Make sure you talk with a professional first before you try this fuel out.
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. If you have children that you take to school or sporting activities, try setting up a carpool with other parents, and trade off the days you will drive. You can also schedule grocery shopping and other errands with friends that live near you.
Save energy by installing a new boiler. New boilers are more energy efficient than old ones. In addition to generating small amounts of carbon dioxide, which benefits your health, they can help to decrease your utility bills.
Many people don’t turn off appliances when not using them. Most people could probably save a ton on utility bills by getting in this habit. Get in the habit of turning things off. When leaving a room, turn off the lights. Shut down the computer monitor when you are finished with it.
Spending a little more on green appliances and electronics generally pays off over time. 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 will also have a positive effect on the environment over the long term.
Ceiling Fans
Don’t forget to use ceiling fans just because it’s wintertime. Switch your fans to clockwise rotation; the warm air will be pushed down toward the floor where you can feel it. It takes a minimal amount of electricity to run ceiling fans, especially when compared to running your furnace.
Use lighting more responsibly to reduce your electricity consumption. During the bright months, try not to use lights until it becomes necessary. Install dimmers to reduce the amount of energy lights require, and use sensors or timers to prevent lights from staying on when no one is in the room.
If you cannot use solar energy or a green energy source to power your entire house, attempt to use green energy for some of the house. For example, get panels installed which will only heat hot water, or ones that specifically heat your basement.
Ice Makers
Make your own ice if you want to reduce energy use as well. Automated ice makers are an energy hog and can be inefficient. These ice makers also increase the temperature of the freezer if they have leaks in their seals. If you make your own ice, you won’t have these problems.
Although there is much information out there about how to go green, the tips here are a great place to start. The simple advice you learned here are easy ways to implement small changes in your home that will allow you to take full advantage of many types green energy available. Your family, friends and environment will all appreciate the effort.
