Many people find the thought of changine their home to make it a daunting one. Knowing where to start and what to do to receive the most benefit can be terribly difficult.Read the following green energy tips and you can find ways to make your home a greener place.
Changing your heating to solar water can reduce the price to heat your water, hot tub and pool. Traditional gas and electricity are not that efficient, but solar-powered water heaters glean the sun’s natural energy to maintain even temperatures. While a few of the upgrades are costlier up front, they might be eligible for tax deductions or green energy tax credits.
One way to conserve energy is to use window treatment to block sunlight.You can also try putting up blinds or curtains in. You will save money and energy throughout the process.
Wash your clothes with cold water whenever possible. Almost 90 percent of the energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating up the water. As long as your detergent is good, using cold water is just as effective.
Do your laundry using cold water, if you can. Almost 90 percent of the consumed energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating up the water. Most good quality laundry detergents work just as well in cold water. Furthermore, bear in mind that you will get maximum efficiency from washing a load that is full, rather then multiple small loads.
Use drapes or curtains in your home when you aren’t home. This keeps your house and your energy costs down when you’re not there. Try adding window coverings that block heat, roller shades, lined curtains.
Consider solar water heaters for your home more energy efficient. If you live where freezing temperatures aren’t prevalent, you can purchase a system that heats water through a heater that is solar before it pumps it in your home. However, it’s best to keep a traditional heater for times when you need a lot of heated water, or if the sun does not come out for some time.
If you’d like to be more environmentally friendly and cut down on your energy costs, try wearing warmer clothing. Wearing a sweater can make you feel two to four degrees warmer, depending on the thickness of the sweater. You do not have to wear a small amount of clothing at home, so put on a sweater and increase your savings.
When planning the solar system used in the home, try calculating what the energy generation of your system will be when you use hours worth of sun in the winter. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, and you have excess during the summer.
Take time to maintain your refrigerator. Refrigerators use a large amount of energy, so it’s crucial to make sure it is running effectively. Make dusting the coils periodically. Make sure the door seal is clean and tight.
Explore the possibility of using a solar-powered oven for some of your baking needs. These can be made with readily available items like an old window, box, and piece of foil for reflection. Solar ovens can get hotter than 300 degrees, and doesn’t use any energy source besides the sun, so you are reducing your carbon footprint and saving money.
Use a tankless and more green instead of one that uses a tank. While heaters that are tankless still need electricity or gas, they only heat the amount of water you need, rather than keeping a large tank hot around the clock. Tankless heaters are available in models that supply the entire home or a single faucet with hot water.
Instead, make sure each member of your family has sweaters, slippers and socks, and heat your living areas with a pellet stove or fireplace.
Biofuels can be used to heat your home. This type of fuel is usually made with a combination of animal fat, vegetable oil and wood. In many cases, if your furnace is propane, a professional can make the necessary changes that will allow you to heat with a blend of fuels. The blend you would use could be made up of 20%-99% biodiesel. Make sure you talk with a professional first before you try this fuel out.
One of the best ways that you can go green and cut energy costs is by dressing more warmly. A light sweater gives you 2 extra degrees of warmth, and a lighter sweater adds 2 degrees. You don’t need to dress lightly inside, so dress warmly and save money!
A really good energy saving tip is to switch your boiler. Old boiler units were not designed with energy conservation in mind, and new boilers are more efficient.Newer boilers produce far less carbon dioxide as well as cut down the cost of your energy bill.
One way to use less energy in the kitchen is to use a microwave oven. Each time you cook in the oven or stove, you tend to use lots of energy. Any time you could perform a task in the microwave without altering the results, such as boiling water, do so. You can conserve a significant amount of energy this way.
Replace your toilet with a water-saving one. Some estimates show that about half of all the water used in a home is from the toilet hole. An older model toilet uses a lot more water than a water-saving one, whereas a water-saving model only uses 1.6 gallons, almost 70 percent more.
Every home has a different layout and is in different areas. Green energy offers solutions for many homes, though it can vary. There are some options that work for everyone, while others won’t. Find the tips that will work for your situation and then, utilize them in your home.
An easy to get started in energy efficiency is to ask your electric company for help. Many power companies have websites with tools that allow you to calculate your hourly energy consumption and tips for reducing your bill. They may also have programs to help you purchase energy efficient appliances and light bulbs.