Now we know how important it is to care for the environment around us. If you apply green energy use in your home, you can take care of both your wallet and the environment. You will be introduced to some of the ways that you can make green energy work in your home today.
Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. 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.
Do you have your own farm? If so, you can rent some property to energy companies for installing wind turbines. You and the neighbors can relish in the free energy and installation, if it doesn’t require too much space.
Keep drapes drawn when you are not home. These help your home remain cool and keep your energy bill down when you are not there. Typically, windows that face south are positioned so that they receive the most sun. Thermally insulated black-out curtains are the best option, but blinds and shades can also work.
Try solar water heaters instead of traditional ones. If freezing temperatures are never a concern in your area, consider a system that circulates water through solar heaters before sending it into your house. Make sure you own traditional water heaters for backup during cold days.
Dressing in warm attire can be a great way to cut energy costs while embracing green energy. A sweater that is heavy adds 4 more degrees of warmth, and a lighter sweater adds 2 degrees. It’s not necessary to dress good at home, so grab a sweater to save money.
When choosing new windows or doors, consider the energy ratings as you shop. If you install double-glazing on your windows, weather-sealed doors, and other similar products, you can drastically decrease the amount of electricity needed for your home. By installing these products, your home is sealed tighter, and you use less energy to heat and cool your home.
Whenever possible, keep the heat in your home turned down. Wear sweatpants and a sweater if you are chilly. Having the heat up high wastes a lot of energy.
Pay attention to the watts used in your home. Use great gadgets such as the Kill-A-Watt or the Watt Minder to find out which fixtures and appliances use up the most energy. Using these devices with your appliances will tell you how much energy is used. You can use this to identify your most expensive energy-hogging appliances.
Write reminders for energy-efficient goals and check your utility bills. If you are more conscious of what your energy expenditures are, this could help to lower them. For instance, if you make an effort to lower your electricity or water usage, it’s more likely that you will also try to use appliances and lights less often.
Try using LED lights as opposed to conventional ones for the next holiday season. Over two billion kilowatt power hours can be saved! The Department of Energy show that 2,000,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity could be saved if all Americans switched to LED lights. That much electricity could power at least 200,000 home for a whole year. All that said, you can at least save some money on your own energy costs!
To cut back on your fuel usage, consider carpooling for more than just work. Set up carpooling with other parents to get the kids to soccer practice or band camp. If you have friends or family nearby, consider combining grocery trips together, alternating driving duties.
Upgrading your home’s boiler is a smart way to save energy. Old boiler units were not designed with energy conservation in mind, yet new boilers are typically more efficient. Newer models have multiple benefits; not only can they lower your energy bills, but they often create a lower amount of carbon dioxide, which can will be lot better for your family’s health.
While cooking, use a microwave if you can to save on energy. The stove uses a good bit of energy. 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.
Don’t forget to use ceiling fans just because it’s wintertime. If you make them rotate clockwise, they push air down which warms up the room. It does take a small amount of power to run your fans, but that is covered by the savings you get from heating your house a little less often.
Use the tips discussed here to minimize your own impact on the environment and become energy efficient. The financial savings alone is enough to make you want to go green!