Going green benefits your home and your health, as well as leaving a minimal impact on the environment. Simple changes in your home can make it energy-efficient and reduce your electricity bill. Read the following tips to learn how you can use less energy at home.
Some government money is available to assist consumers with switching to renewable energy. If you are interested in getting free money to improve your home you should contact your local government for more information. Depending on your local energy programs, you could end up getting a renewable energy system set up for your home for free.
Whenever possible, you should use cold water to wash your clothes. Nearly 90% of the energy that is consumed when you wash your clothes is taken up heating the water. Just make sure you don’t harm your clothes in the process; check out the labels on your clothes and make a judgment for yourself. Another great tip is to always fill up the washer with a full load so that you’re being as efficient as possible.
Don’t leave anything on that you aren’t using. When you are ready to leave a room, go around and turn off appliances such as computers, televisions, and most importantly, the overhead light. When you can, plug your electronics into a power strip and when you are not using it, turn it off. Energy is still being used when something is in standby mode.
If you prefer to use your dishwasher to wash your dishes, only run it when it is full to capacity. An equal amount of water and energy is used, whether it is full or not. When running the dishwasher, turn on the setting for energy conservation.
Solar Energy
Hot water can be obtained in a low cost, environmentally friendly manner through solar energy. Consider investing in a hot-water system that runs off of solar energy. You may pick between a direct or indirect circulation system. If frozen pipes are a concern where you live, the indirect option is probably better.
Use electric heaters minimally in the winter. Dress more warmly when around the house. Wear slippers and a heavy top, and light up your fireplace or pellet stove for increased warmth at low cost. Also, it has been shown that people sleep better in cooler temperatures.
Instead of using standard lights for your next holiday season, make sure to use LED lights to decorate your tree and home. According to a U.S. study. The U.S. Department of Energy says we could save over 2 billion kilowatt hours of power if everyone made this change. That amount of power is enough to supply 200,000 homes with electricity for a whole year. At least, you can save money on your electricity!
You can use biofuels as a heat source for your home. What these fuels are composed of are wood, oil and vegetable or animal fats. If you have a propane furnace, you may be able to have a professional retrofit your furnace to work with biofuel blend. Up to 99% can be biodiesel. Always consult with professionals prior to using this type of fuel in the home.
To cut back on your fuel usage, consider carpooling for more than just work. If you have children, organize a carpooling system with your neighbors and trade off driving days among all the participating parents. If you are located close to other families, agree to do your grocery shopping at the same time and rotate who drives each week.
As was mentioned in the above article, going with green energy technology does not have to be time consuming or costly! Making a few easy changes can lower your electricity usage and save you money. This article has tips that are perfect for positively impacting the environment so share them.