Hints On How You Can Use Green Energy At Home | Green Living

TIP! The U.S.

A hot topic these days is using green energy whenever possible. You may wonder what green energy is. In layman’s terms, green energy is renewable energy and efficient technology that helps the environment. This type of energy is able to be used in every home, so read on to find out how this is possible.

TIP! Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use.

Changing your heating to solar water can reduce the price to heat your water, hot tub and pool. When you heat water with natural gas or electricity, it isn’t as efficient as using a solar alternative. While many of these upgrades have high up-front costs, they may qualify for tax credits or other rebates.

TIP! Check your furnace and air conditioning filters monthly. Clean or replace them as needed.

When you can, wash your laundry in cold water. Almost all of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water. Washing clothes in cold water can be just as effective as a warm cycle, especially with today’s cold water detergents. Also, don’t wash your clothes until you can completely fill the washer, as this saves energy over time.

TIP! On hot, summer days, hang your clothes outside. This can cause your clothes to smell really good.

Dry your clothes on a line or rack in the summer instead of a dryer. Your clothing will have a great smell from the sun. Your clothes will smell fresher when dried naturally rather than in the dryer. In addition, you will save a lot of money on your monthly utility bills.

Renewable Energy

TIP! Never run a dishwasher that is partly empty. The dishwasher cycle uses the same amounts of water and energy, whether it is full or not.

There are many renewable energy rebates offered by the government, so be aware of them. Sometimes your utility company may offer additional rebates which will help pay for the expense of the systems. You may also be able to get tax credits or deductions from the government for your upgrades. These rebates, credits, and other allowances can make it much more affordable to install renewable energy equipment on your property.

TIP! Calculate potential energy generation during the planning of buying home solar systems. This will ensure that you are not caught short during winter, and you have excess during the summer.

If you aren’t sold on making a large green energy investment at home, then bring in a professional heating expert or plumber to take a look at your existing systems. They should be able to inform you about extra expenses you are paying for inefficient appliances, as well as the amount it would cost to upgrade to newer, energy-efficient models.

TIP! Instead of buying that new desktop computer, purchase a laptop, as desktops use much more electricity. Making this switch can reduce your power consumption by up to 75%.

Have your friends and business associates contact you via email rather than snail mail. Use paper as little as you can. This will save the businesses you deal with a great deal on energy costs and mailing expenses. In addition, going paperless helps the environment, something that everyone benefits from.

TIP! Replace old appliances with those labeled Energy Star. Energy Star ratings mean that your new appliances are technologically built to use less energy than previous models.

Monitor your electricity consumption watt by watt. If you do not know the formula to figure out the energy each appliance uses, there are tools like a Kill-A-Watt that can give you the information instantly. Plug the appliance into the device, and it can tell you the amount of energy it uses within an hour, month, or even a year. You’ll be able to calculate how much each appliance costs you in electricity and replace those which are power hogs.

TIP! Get a water-saving toilet. It is estimated that up to 50 percent of a home’s water use is literally flushed down the toilet.

Replacing an old boiler can save energy. Many old boilers were not made with saving energy in mind, whereas new boilers tend to be more energy efficient. Newer boilers don’t produce as much carbon dioxide and use less energy, which saves on your energy costs and promotes better health.

Green Energy

TIP! Spending the extra money on buying green electronics and appliances pays off in the long run. Energy savings, coupled with monetary savings, will make the investment worthwhile over the longer term.

As you have seen, green energy is increasing in popularity. Renewable energy sources and more efficient technology will all help the environment. You can join on this trend and begin using green energy for your home using the tips provided in this article.