Green Energy Ideas You Can Use In Your Home | Green Living

TIP! Use a solar water heater to keep your pools, tubs and plumbing full of piping hot, but cheap, water. Solar water heaters tap into the abundant and free energy offered by the sun.

Some homeowners may be uncertain how to convert their energy usage into more environmentally friendly forms. There are many things that you can easily do to help protect the environment. Take time to read the tips here that will make energy use more efficient for your house.

TIP! You will find that it’s easy to get solar panels and they’re a great way to get energy for your home. However, before you do this, there are a few things that you need to take care of.

Just start using less energy every day. Unplug alliances when they are not being used. Turn off the lights and TV when not in the room. This is a simple tip that can help you save money, too.

TIP! Be socially responsible, and unplug electric chargers for all devices that don’t need immediate charging. Chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cell phones and other devices use power when they’re plugged in.

Be socially responsible, and unplug electric chargers for all devices that don’t need immediate charging. Mp3, cell phone, laptop, and various other device chargers draw power when they’re plugged in, no matter if it’s charging or not.

TIP! Clean your furnace filters regularly and replace them at least one time a year. You should also install filters on any warm-air registers included with your furnace.

When you can, wash your laundry in cold water. If you use warm or hot water in your washing machine, almost 90% of your energy use goes towards heating the water. If your laundry detergent is a high quality brand, the use of cold water won’t affect the cleanliness of your clothing. Only wash when you have a full load of clothes to put in the washer.

TIP! Turn off electrical items whenever you aren’t using them. Any rooms in the home that are vacant should not have any electronics or lights left on.

Consider installing a solar water heating system. If you live somewhere where you don’t have to be concerned with temperatures that are freezing, you can use a system that circulates water through the solar heater before it gets pumped into your home. However, consider that you may still need a traditional heater if you will be using a great deal of hot water, or if the sun does not come out for some time.

TIP! If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, do not operate before it fills up. No matter how many dishes you have in there, it still uses the same level of energy.

Think about how much sun your home gets during winter months to help you figure out how much solar energy you need to power your home. Using this metric means you will meet your energy needs in the winter, while greatly exceeding them in the summer. Net usage plans let you receive money for generated energy!

TIP! If you would like to reduce the cost of your hot water, use solar energy. Purchase a solar water heating system.

When you install a solar energy system, place the batteries close to the cells. This way, you won’t lose power in the cable. You also will not have to worry about the cells being shaded by a cable and not producing as much energy as they could.

TIP! Rather than using an energy-hogging desktop computer, switch to a laptop. This could possibly reduce your electrical use by 75 percent, especially if the Internet is used frequently or there is heavy use of word processing software.

Maintain your refrigerator. Your fridge consumes a ton of energy, so make sure it’s in good shape. Make certain to clean the dust that surrounds heating coils periodically. Don’t forget to be certain to keep the seal surrounding the door tight and clean.

TIP! Consider using a solar oven to bake with. You can make these with boxes, old windows or old pieces of foil that can be used for reflection.

Don’t use your electric heater when you can avoid it. Wear several layers of warm clothes instead, and heat main rooms with a pellet stove or fireplace. It is better to sleep in cooler air, it helps you breathe, and keeps your airways moist.

Passive Solar Power

TIP! A home heating alternative to be considered is biofuel. These fuels use fats, wood or oil to create energy.

When looking at solar power, know the difference between passive solar power and active. Passive solar power is power on demand and does not require cells for power storage. Active solar power has plenty of power storing ability so you will have energy ready anytime you may need it. Active solar powers requires solar panels that need installations as well as mechanical systems and cells. While passive is simply using the sun to store thermal energy inside your walls to heat your home with.

TIP! Start carpooling to take care of many of your daily tasks. Don’t think of it as just an option for commuting to work.

Use a laptop computer instead of a desktop, which uses more energy. This can cut up to 75% of your electrical use, especially if you are frequently on the Internet or using word processing software. Not to mention, it can be taken anywhere thanks to its portability.

TIP! A simple way to start going green is to talk to your power company. Utility companies often have web site tools that let you see the amount of energy you use and ways to reduce the consumption.

Each home has a unique floor plan and has different geographical characteristics. Depending upon your homes different areas, there are different green technologies that work in various ways. There are some that will work for every home, and others that will not. Use the tips that work best for your home.