Switching to green sounds onerous, but it’s easier than you think. Whenever making small changes, you help the environment. The advice in the paragraphs that follow can help you understand how to switch to different, green sources of energy.
Wear natural fabrics during the summer in order to avoid wasting energy on air conditioning. Cotton and similar fabrics will draw moisture from your skin, so you will stay cool. Light colors help you to feel cooler than darker or warmer colors.
Clean or replace the filters on your furnace once each year, and check once a month to see if they need to be cleaned. It is also a good idea to install filters on warm-air registers. This will help keep debris or dirt from clogging vents and reducing their overall efficiency.
Consider switching to solar-powered water heaters for your home. Best for locations with a warmer climate, a solar water heater uses the sun’s energy to heat water that circulates through it. You still should keep your regular water heater as a backup because there may be times when there isn’t a lot of sun or you have to use a lot of water that’s hot.
Don’t run the dishwasher unless it’s full in order to save energy and money. Don’t run it with just a few dishes. With a little effort, you will be amazed by how much you can fit in one load. Align each dish carefully so that your dishwasher racks can accommodate the largest number of dishes.
When thinking about home solar systems, think about how much energy will be produced during winter. This will guarantee that you will have energy no matter what the weather brings, and it will result in a surplus during the summer. You can actually get money back from your utility company for any energy your generate if you’re on the net usage plan.
Tankless Heaters
Trade out your older, tank-style water heater for a tankless model that is more green. Tankless heaters still use electricity or gas to provide hot water, but they only heat the water you actually need. There are tankless heaters that can supply just one single faucet with water that is hot, but there are also models which supply the whole home.
An easy way to cut energy costs and go green is to dress warm. Lighter sweaters can add 2 more degrees of warmth, while heavy sweaters increase warmth by 4 degrees. There’s no reason you can’t bundle up in the privacy of your own home, so put on a sweater and cut down your energy bill!
Learn the difference between passive and active solar power. Active power is the power stored for later use and passive doesn’t require pricey cells for storing power. Active solar power needs to have cells, mechanical systems, and solar panels installed. Passive solar power uses the heat of the sun to hold thermal energy within your home.
Search for available rebates when you use renewable energy. Sometimes your utility company may offer additional rebates which will help pay for the expense of the systems. You may also get state and federal tax deductions for making your home more energy efficient. These rebates and credits can substantially reduce the cost of installing green energy technology in your home.
Keep your heat on at a moderate level. Don’t increase it unless it is a necessity. If you’re cold, put on a warm sweatshirt and some cozy socks. High levels of heat use too much energy.
Energy Star
Replace your older appliances with the newer, energy-efficient ones that have Energy Star ratings. Energy Star appliances are guaranteed to use less energy than those made previously. Refrigerators and freezers that are Energy Star rated uses approximately twenty percent less energy. While dishwashers and washing machines can save up to fifty percent on energy bills.
Try using a toilet that is built to save water. Some studies show that flushing the toilet accounts for half the water used in a typical home. Older models of toilets can have a capacity of 5 gallons. That is 5 gallons of wasted water per flush. New water saving models use closer to a gallon and a half of water per flush. This can save 70 percent of the water you used previously.
Going green can be very simple. As you can see from the advice above, the thing you can do to make your home just a bit greener are easily found. Now that you have read the article, begin to incorporate what you have learned into your life. You do not have to put in much effort to see great results.
Discussion about this post