How can green energy benefit you? Green energy can help save you money as you help save the environment. Can you help our planet fight for survival? Continue reading for some easy tips that will show you how to assist.
Switch to solar heating systems for water to lower your cost of indoor water. 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. Some of these upgrades, while more expensive up-front, may qualify for green energy tax deductions.
Wear natural fabrics instead of using the air conditioning in the summer. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw the moisture further from your skin and let it stay cooler. Light colored clothing can also help you to feel cooler.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, ask a professional if you can use biodiesel. Some current systems can use forms of biodiesel without the need for modifications. Biodiesel is cleaner and more efficient to burn than oil, and it has a better affect on the environment.
Purchase a solar water heater to warm up 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. It is still a good idea to keep a regular water heater in case of excess hot water usage or overcast weather.
A good way to save money is to only turn on your dishwasher when you have a full load ready to go. Try to refrain from putting small amounts in and running the dishwasher. The amount of dishes that can be placed in a washer is astounding. Make sure you take time to place the dishes in properly so as to maximize the space available.
As you plan for a solar energy array, use winter time sunshine hours to calculate from. As winter sunlight is much lower than summer, you will want to be able to plan for higher energy costs in winter. If your plan is contingent on net usage, you will even get money back from your utility company because of the excess energy you are creating!
Replace your water heater and get a 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 find tankless heaters that either supply an entire house, or just a single faucet.
Solar Power
Find out more about active and passive forms of solar power. Passive solar power doesn’t need expensive cells in order to store power, although active is stored for later use. Active power uses solar panels, cells and mechanical systems. Passive systems use the sun’s rays to store energy withing the walls of your home and are significantly cheaper.
If you can afford it, invest in a laptop rather than using a desktop as they tend to use more energy. This could possibly reduce your electrical use by 75 percent, especially if the Internet is used frequently or there is heavy use of word processing software. In addition, the laptop is portable and be used anywhere in the house.
Monitor how many watts you’re using. Devices like Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt can help you determine the highest energy-usage culprits in your home. Plug your appliances in to these devices to find out what amount of energy is required each year, month or hour to run it. With that information, you will be able to calculate how much that appliance costs to operate.
In order to keep up with energy efficiency goals, compare all your energy bills to previous year to see how much progress you are making. Increasing your consciousness of your energy consumption can help you cut back. If you are specifically focusing on reducing your electricity and water consumption, then you are going to be more conscious of lights left on, or dripping taps.
Do not forget the most basic ways to save energy, such as turning off the lights you don’t need. It’s surprising how much energy is conserved after turning the lights off. You will also save on your electric bill.
A lot of people consider alternative energy sources, but most people don’t take time to actually implement it. This article should have provided you with several great ideas that you can use to get started. Before you know it, your home can be very green, and you could be saving a significant amount of money.
