Just the idea of making these changes in your house and making it a lot more green could be overwhelming to most homeowners. Figuring out how to start and what you need to help yourself and the environment can be hard. Read this article for some tips on improving the energy use in your home.
Make use of fans inside the home. You can easily use floor fans or have a ceiling fan installed to increase airflow inside the home. You can use these even if you already have an air conditioner because you can turn the thermostat higher and just use the fans for air movement.
If you are planning on switching to green energy, it can seem too discouraging to jump in and do it all at once. While an entire home and land can be overwhelming, try narrowing your efforts to one room at a time. A good first step is a bedroom, where you can use solar power for just a reading lamp and a radio or alarm clock. Then work up from there!
During the hot summer months, hang clothes outside rather than tossing them in the dryer. Your laundry will smell fantastic after a day in the sun. Sun-drying clothes gives them a fresh smell. This will save you a ton on your utility bills, leaving you extra money to turn your air conditioning on instead.
Swap your old incandescent light bulbs for high-efficiency LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs use far less electricity than incandescent, and they come in sizes that fit most existing fixtures. While the up-front cost is generally higher, most of these bulbs will last for years before burning out.
Find out more about ground source heat pumps. These pumps are located under your home and pump the natural heat of the earth to keep you warm. This system can be costly but the pumps use very little power and can last up to fifty years. Invest in this system if you are going to stay in a home for decades.
Try switching to CFLs. The compact fluorescent bulbs tend to use about 75 percent less energy than the traditional incandescent bulbs do, plus they last around 10 times longer. They are pricier than the traditional bulbs, but it takes only a few months to make up for it in energy savings.
Use rechargeable batteries. While they might cost a little bit more initially, they will save you a lot of money in the long run. Rechargeable batteries can be used hundreds of times, and they only need to be replaced about every five years. Another benefit is that you aren't constantly adding corrosive batteries to the landfill.
Try switching to CFLs. The compact fluorescent bulbs tend to use about 75 percent less energy than the traditional incandescent bulbs do, plus they last around 10 times longer. They are pricier than the traditional bulbs, but it takes only a few months to make up for it in energy savings.
Conserving energy and preserving the earth are the best ways to utilize efficient green energy. While the technology is catching up with the consumer demand, we need to realize that conservation is the best alternative to green energy. If we do not use as much energy, there is not as large of a demand, and we will allow the technology the time it needs to catch up.
If you are still using a more traditional source of energy, invest in a programmable thermostat. This will let you pre-set your temperatures for both day and night times. This leads to savings in both money and energy as http://myledlighting1.weebly.com/home/watts-versus-lumens-versus-footcandles/ during the night many people allow their homes to cool down via the natural decrease in temperature.
If your dishwasher was made before 1994, replace it with a new, high-efficiency model to save both electricity and water. Modern dishwashers use fewer gallons per load than older units, and they come with a wider variety of settings that allow you to customize your energy usage based on the size http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/why-trump-should-embrace-not-ditch-green-energy/ of the load.
Get your home greener by being more responsible with how much light you are using. In the months with longer days and more light, don't turn your lights on until a certain time. Try using dimmers to reduce the usage of lights.
Keep your home clean at all times. By constantly cleaning your home, you aren't allowing dirt to accumulate, which if left alone, you would need to use products with harsh chemicals to clean up. The less often you have to use these environmentally damaging products, the better off everyone will be.
Buy a solar water heater for your home. Water heaters consume a massive amount of electricity every day, even when not in use. By purchasing a water heater that harnesses energy from the sun you will see an instant reduction in your power bill. Make certain that it is well insulated.
When buying wood, think about buying bamboo. Bamboo is technically grass but is just as strong as other woods. Bamboo grows extremely fast and is currently being made into many products, from cutting board to flooring. Thanks to this, energy is saved when it comes to production and recycling.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer set to the optimum temperatures. These appliances are two of the biggest energy wasters in the modern home. Be sure the temperature in your refrigerator is set between 38-42 degrees (F) and in your freezer to -5 degrees (F). Anything lower and you are burning energy unnecessarily.
Programmable thermostats are one of the easiest ways to save money on energy costs. You can pre-program the settings, so you can have a temperature that is constant. You can also set up your own programs to control the temperature during different times of day.
Power strips are a great way not only to protect your expensive appliances but also to easily lower your energy usage. Instead of having to switch off or unplug every individual appliance when they are not in use, you can simply switch off all power strips at night or when you leave your home.
As stated before, many forms of energy can be found on earth that we use. Many are harmful to the environment, but there are some which are not. The information outlined here should have given you a clearer understanding of these green energy sources and how they can be utilized in place of other energy sources.
