Contrary to popular belief, going "green" does not mean that you have to make big investments with your time or with your money. A few, small changes around the house can shave electricity bills and greatly benefit the environment. Take advantage of the helpful tips in the article below to positively impact the environment with green energy.
Buying energy-efficient light bulbs is a http://www.my-led-lighting-guide.tumblr.com/post/146182545903/led-retrofit-kits-mini-series great way to save money and use green energy in your home. These light bulbs take a couple minutes to use their maximum brightness. This delay allows less energy to be used when turning on the lights in your home, which is a great way to save energy!
If you want to preserve energy, keep your windows so they are shaded from sunlight. Shading the windows with curtains and blinds will keep out the sun in summer and keep the heat from escaping in winter. When you do these things, you then make your house cooler and reduce the amount of air conditioning you use during the summer. You will save energy and money as well.
For green energy use in your home, you should change all your incandescent bulbs to the new energy efficient fluorescent bulbs. Not only will you save a bundle on your energy bill, but you will help conserve energy for future generations and reduce your own impact on the power grid in your city.
Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible. Having heated water in your washer can use up to nine-tenths of the energy required to run a washing machine. As long as your detergent is good, cold water washing can be just as effective as warm water. In addition, remember to wash full loads to maximize energy efficiency.
If you are interested in alternative energy sources, you can start by contacting your current energy provider to see if they have anything to offer. Many companies are now able to harness power from solar and wind power. This may cost you more, as there is a price for the extra work involved in tapping these sources, but you will be doing the environment a favor!
Wash your clothes in cold water. Clothes come just as clean if you use cold water instead of hot water, and making the switch can save a lot of energy. Most of the energy used to wash clothes is the energy the water heater uses to heat the water.
Responsibly recycling electronics is a great way to maximize resources. When people think of green energy they think of alternative energy. However, it is just as important to get the most from the non-renewable resources that we use as it is to minimize our use. Recycling electronics prevents unnecessary polluting of landfills as well as reuses resources that non-renewable.
Use solar water heaters as a great alternative to heating water with electricity. They use the sun's energy to heat water for use in your home or business. The ideal location for a solar water heating system is a south-facing roof that is not shaded. Current technologies allow the system to blend in with your roof so as not to detract from your home.
Try using programmable thermostats to save energy inside your home. These let you adjust the times when you can turn on your heater or air-conditioning according to the schedule you set up. As a result, you're not operating anything as much when you're not home, or when you're asleep.
Using green energies is not an excuse to use more energy than you really need. Do not forget to turn the lights off when you leave a room and putting on a sweater instead of turning the heat up. Even if green energies are cheaper, you should still do your best to save as much energy as you can.
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.
Geothermal heating may be something for you to consider. If you live in the right kind of area, you are going to be able to take advantage of the heat that the earth naturally produces. These pumps will use that natural energy to heat and cool your home. Contact your local heating contractor to learn more about this process.
Monitor how many watts you use. Gadgets like the http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/ Kill-A-Watt and Watt Minder can help you determine exactly which appliances account for the majority of your energy usage. Gadgets can be set to give you the energy-usage amounts for hours, months or years. This is a good way to find out how much your appliances are really costing you.
Put solar panels on the roof to make the home greener. While solar panels require a significant up-front investment, the cost savings you will enjoy over the course of several years can more than pay for it. Not only will the energy you generate take care of your electric bill, there may even be some left over to sell to your electric company.
If you have a tank-style water heater that you aren't prepared to replace yet, conserve electricity or natural gas by lowering its thermostat. By changing the thermostat from the factory-set 140 degrees to 120 degrees, the heater requires 6 to 10 percent less energy to keep your water hot.
Keep your fridge and freezer closed as often as possible. Refrigeration consumes about a third of your households total energy and constantly leaving your fridge and freezer open can increase the energy needed by up to 25%. Make sure that you know what you want before opening up your refrigerator.
If you are fortunate and have a natural source of running water on your property, then hydropower might be for you. Hydropower involves diverting a portion of the water through a turbine or a wheel in order to provide your home with power. Once you have the equipment, the power will be free and much cleaner than traditional electricity, gas, or oil.
Even just one person striving to use green energy can make a big difference. When companies see more consumers using green energy, they'll work to meet their customer's needs. Take advantage of what you've learned in this article and seek out more environmentally friendly forms of energy. It's never too late to go green.
