Going green costs a ton. It takes a lot of effort to make use of green energy. I do not have time. Green energy is confusing to get started with. Throw these excuses away! Below you'll find some excellent, cost-effective and easy ways to make your home green when it comes to energy.
Consider outdoor lighting, such as garden or patio lighting, that is solar-powered. These lamps are cheap and don't require any power besides sun exposure. They also save energy. It also means you do not to have string up those outdoor lights.
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!
Try using energy efficient light bulbs or even LED lights in your home to cut costs for lighting. Turning off the lights when you are not in the room also helps to save energy. Keep this in mind when you are leaving home, as simply turning off the lights saves a lot of energy!
Set your computer so that it goes to sleep when you are not using it for more than 10-15 minutes at any given time. While most people believe that screensavers save energy they do not, and should not be used as an alternative to placing your computer in a sleeping state.
Remember that solar panels, whether you install them on your roof or anywhere else on your property, must be angled toward the sun to receive maximum exposure. In the Northern Hemisphere, this means facing them south with an angle of latitude plus fifteen degrees. Otherwise, your investment will not return as much energy as you hope.
To practice good green energy habits you should make it a priority to recycle at home. Anything that is recyclable should be sorted out and stored in a recycle bin. By doing this, you are taking an active role in making sure the environment is safe for everyone while also cutting down on energy costs.
One very easy way to save money on your heating bills is to dress more warmly around the house during the winter months. Lighter sweaters can add 2 more degrees of warmth, while heavy sweaters increase warmth by 4 degrees. Since it is pointless to wear very little clothing while indoors, you might as well wear a sweater.
One of the cheapest and easiest ways to make your home more energy efficient is by replacing all of your standard light bulbs with green versions. Not only do such bulbs reduce your energy bill through lower wattage and higher efficiency, but these bulbs are also made to last longer, giving you a two-fold return for your investment.
If you can not afford to get new windows that are more energy efficient, be sure to invest in some good shades. During the summer months, cover the windows during the day to keep the sun out. In the winter months, leave the window covers open to let the sun heat up the rooms; close them at night though to help keep the cold out.
If you want to make better use of energy in your home but aren't sure where to start, schedule a home energy audit from a professional auditor. These auditors can thoroughly investigate your home, and suggest ways to reduce your energy consumption, with green technology and other improvements.
If you simply cannot afford to upgrade or replace any part of your home's energy systems, then change your energy-using habits instead. For example, take short showers instead of long baths and only wash maximum capacity loads of clothes or dishes to cut back on water consumption. Likewise, shut off any lights or appliances before leaving a room.
The easiest way to find these appliances is to look on them for an Energy Star badge. Any appliance that has an ENERGY STAR logo meets guidelines for the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA as well. These appliances are usually the only ones that can be used for tax rebates.
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.
If it is holiday time, you might want to consider throwing out your old bulbs and replacing them with new energy efficient LED lights for your tree and your home. These lights use 90 percent less energy than the old style lights and will save you money during the holiday http://alternion.com/users/myledlighting season.
Insulating your hot water cylinder can help you to save large amounts of energy in your home. Putting insulation around your pipes helps your hot water to run more quickly as well. If you are unsure of how to do this yourself, you may want to enlist the help of a professional.
Install a system that monitors how much energy various devices in your home use. These small devices display, in real-time, how much energy your home is using, and they can estimate your utility bill. Research shows that people are likely to reduce energy consumption if they know how much the bill will be.
Switch plates and outlets are a necessary evil when it comes to holes that may cause energy or heat loss. That said, you can reduce the amount of energy lost through such openings by installing foam gaskets behind their face plates and then by sealing their edges with a quick application of caulk.
Don't drink bottled water. Bottled water is often just repackaged tap water, and the process of bottling the water and transporting it to the store is very wasteful. If you don't trust tap water in the community, buy a reusable bottle with a filter.
This article is a gold mine for anyone who wishes to change their lives to take advantage of the benefits of green energy. Everything that you've read here will help you to make simple adjustments, within your own home, leading to rewards you couldn't have imagined. Take the time to start today!
