Going green benefits your home and the environment. Change some small things in the home to save on your energy costs. Use the tips from this article to help you conserve energy and be green in your home.
Use a solar water heat system to lower water and heating costs. 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. While a few of the upgrades are costlier up front, they might be eligible for tax deductions or green energy tax credits.
Save Energy
Shading windows from sunlight whelps to save energy. Shading the windows with curtains and blinds will keep out the sun in summer and keep the heat from escaping in winter. Since this will make your house cooler, you will use the air conditioner less. You will save energy and money.
The government has set up several incentive programs to help consumers switch to renewable energy sources. Talk to your local government and figure out what programs are in the area. Depending on your local energy programs, you could end up getting a renewable energy system set up for your home for free.
Provide Energy
Are you the owner of a farm? If you have one, an energy company may be interested in renting a portion of the property to install a wind turbine. This installation will provide energy while taking little space and it will provide energy to you and perhaps your neighbors.
Clean your furnace filters regularly and replace them at least one time a year. Adding filters to warm-air registers is also beneficial. This not only helps keep debris (and kids’ toys) from entering heating ducts, which reduces efficiency.
If you use heating fuel, ask a professional if you can convert your system to bio-diesel fuel system. You might even find that you can switch your system to partial biodiesel without having to purchase parts or hire a contractor to perform modifications. Biodiesel is cleaner and more efficient to burn than oil, and it has a better affect on the environment.
Research different sources of green energy available to your community. Check how much these utilities cost and any tax breaks or laws before making a decision. You may find that switching to one or another may provide a reduction in energy use and cost.
Don’t leave appliances that aren’t in use, on. When you leave a room, take the time to turn off lights, the tv or the computer. A power strip is an easy way to turn off multiple appliances at once, so consider placing one in a conspicuous place where many electronics are located.
If you utilize a dishwasher, avoiding using it until it’s filled up. No matter how many dishes you have in there, it still uses the same level of energy. When it is time to do a load of dishes, use the dishwasher’s energy-saving mode. This makes it so that the dishes air-dry rather than being dried by heat.
Air flow is better controlled in home that has stormed doors and windows installed. Storm windows are good at cutting down on the cool air that tries to get in. Homes which have stormed windows and doors increase their energy efficiency by as much as 45% which also ends up costing you a lot less on your utility bills.
As mentioned, it doesn’t have to cost a lot or take a lot of time to go green! Saving energy is just a matter of making a few minor changes to how you live. Keep these tips in mind, apply them and let your friends know about your good resolutions so that you can all assist the environment.