Green energy offers many environmental benefits, but it also offers economic benefits to you the homeowner. Read this article for some great tips on going green in your home.
Switch to a solar water heater to heat your pools, showers, hot tubs and kitchen faucets to save money. Using natural gas and electricity is certainly the norm, but it’s not very energy efficient. By contrast, solar energy is very efficient, and it keeps water temperatures steady just as well as traditional heating methods. While some upgrades cost more initially, they can qualify you for deductions on your tax return for using green energy.
Cut down on air conditioning by wearing natural fibers in the summer. Cotton and other fabrics draw sweat from the skin and make you cool. You can also try wearing lighter colors, they help you feel cooler, lessening your need for artificial cold air.
Putting in solar panels in your home for solar energy is easy. There are a few things to consider before installing them. Think about how much sun your house typically gets. If you home is under a lot of shade, or in an area where you do not have a lot of sunny days, the power gained from your solar unit will not be very significant.
Your furnace filters should be cleaned monthly and replaced yearly. Installing the filters in warm-air registers is also a great idea. Having filters prevents debris from building up inside your heating ducts, which would hinder the energy efficiency of your heating system.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, a technician can give you information about changing over to biodiesel. Some current systems can use forms of biodiesel without the need for modifications. Biodiesel is great because it is more efficient and produces less pollution that standard oil, which will reduce your carbon footprint.
Think about heating your water with solar water heaters. If you live where freezing temperatures aren’t prevalent, you can purchase a system that can circulate water via a solar heater prior to being pumped to your home. It is still a good idea to keep a regular water heater in case of excess hot water usage or overcast weather.
Using solar energy is one good way to heat water. Purchase a solar water heating system. Your choices include an indirect or direct circulation system. The indirect one is your best option if you have to worry about frozen pipes in the winter.
Don’t use electric heaters unless you have to during the winter months. You can save electricity by avoiding these devices. Buy more warm clothing and use a fireplace to add heat to your home. Also, it has been shown that people sleep better in cool environments.
Use a laptop rather than a desktop computer to save electricity and enhance your mobility. Laptops use only about one quarter of the power consumption of a full desktop, and is ideal for those that use their computer for surfing the Internet or word processing. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!
Green Energy
By starting now with green energy technology, it means greater savings for you and healthier planet in the future. As this article explains, green energy is not expensive or complicated at all. Start implementing the advice you have learned to create a more energy efficient home today.