People have computers, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines ... the list goes on and on! Power is hugely important in everyday life, and without it many would be lost. Green energy is the best way to power someone's life without hurting the environment, and this article contains some simple strategies here for you to leverage in your own home.
Speak with your utility company about receiving your electric power from a renewable source. Many metropolitan areas get some of their power from hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, or wind powered plants. Often, the electric company can simply apply a certain amount of your electric bill to renewable energy without you needing to make any other changes.
Using cold water in your washing machine whenever possible is a great way to save energy. The reason for this is that a significant amount of energy is required to heat water. In fact, about ninety percent of the energy consumed when washing clothes is used for heating water. Using hot water is more expensive for both you and the environment.
Turn off electrical items when you're not using them. Make sure that all lights are off when you exit a room, and also consider switching off the power for your television set, computer and stereo. Use a power strip for your home electronics, and turn it off when you aren't using the equipment. If something is left in standby mode, it is still wasting power.
Use drapes or curtains in your windows for when you are not home. This keeps your home cooler naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner and saving energy. Usually, windows that face south receive the most sunlight. Dark, lined curtains, roman shades or roller shades may be something to consider using on your windows.
Use solar hot water. By installing a solar hot water system, you can use solar power to heat the water you use for everything in your home. It will work for your showers, washing dishes and doing laundry. If you are worried about not getting enough sun, you can invest in a small, traditional water heater as well.
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. These kinds of doors and windows reduces the amount of cold air that comes into the home. Homes which have stormed windows and doors increase their energy efficiency by as much as 45% which also ends up costing you http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/ a lot less on your utility bills.
Make small changes if you do not have a lot of money to invest or do not have access to the kind of resources you need. Get a small solar power installation to provide power for one room only, and get a few solar cells to charge your cell phone and other devices, for instance.
If you do not need to use the lights in your home, turn them off. This includes when you are not even at home. When the lights are left on, they use a lot of energy, which is not only negative for the environment, but it is also negative on your wallet.
A great tip to help save energy is to utilize daylight in your house. Rather than turning on your lights during the day, open up your shades, and let the sun naturally light up your home. You may even want to consider installing a skylight to really help illuminate your home.
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 during the night many people allow their homes to cool down via the natural decrease in temperature.
Use rechargeable batteries instead of regular ones. Batteries are harmful for the environment if not recycled properly: you can reduce the amount of batteries that need recycling by using the same ones for a long time. Invest in a good brand and just click the up coming document get a battery charging device to power your children's toys and other appliances.
In order to save energy in your home, you may want to think about insulating your loft, attic, and/or roof. Since heat rises, it is important that they are insulated so you do not always need to use the air conditioner on your home. This is usually so simple that you can do it yourself.
Make use of your ceiling fans to make the air cooler during the summer. The ceiling fan keeps air circulating, which can create the feeling of cooler air. This is especially so if you run the fan with the air conditioner on. You will be able to set your thermostat much higher because the ceiling fan is doing some of the work.
Don't use your dishwasher until you have a full load. Make sure your dishwasher is full before using it, hecause it takes the same amount of water and energy to wash a full load as it does half a load. Use the shortest cycle possible, if you can, turn the dishwasher off prior to the drying cycle, opening the door. This allows the dishes to air dry.
Seal any air leaks in your home. Air leakage, or infiltration typically occurs when the outside air enters your house uncontrollably via openings and cracks. You can properly seal these openings and cracks via sealant or weatherstripping. This greatly reduces cooling and heating costs, betters your building's durability, and helps you mainatain a healthier home environment.
A great tip to help save energy is to rinse your dishes with cold water, particularly if you are using a dishwasher. Using hot water will cause your water heater to expend unnecessary energy, resulting in a higher electric bill. Avoid this by rinsing with cold water only.
A raised floor can be a great way to save energy. Install your heating system in the raised floor: the heat will circulate much better and every room of your house will be warm. It also functions as an insulation from the cold ground in the winter and will allow air to circulate and cool off your home in the summer.
Harness wind power in your home. Wind power is probably one of the cleanest sources that we have available now, and using it just might cut your electric bill down by up to 90%. You will have to make sure that your home is zoned correctly and then invest in a wind-turbine unit in order to take advantage of this technology.
As you can see, green energy technology isn't so difficult to implement. Try out some of the tips you just read in your home today, so that you can begin saving energy. Not only will you be doing the environment a favor, but you'll save money on your electricity bills.
