You do not have to break the bank to become more green, and you don’t have to waste a lot of valuable time either. Simply making a few changes to your home can cut electricity costs, and offer numerous benefits to the environment. This article teaches you how to improve your home by making it more green.
You can reduce your energy usage by just reducing your electricity usage. When not using a certain appliance, unplug it from the outlet. Turn off lights, television sets and other small appliances when you are done using them. This is an excellent way of saving yourself some money.
Wear natural fabrics instead of running your air conditioner during summer months. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw the moisture further from your skin and let it stay cooler. Light colored clothing can also help you to feel cooler.
Solar panels can be easily installed on your home and are used to collect energy from the sun for use in your home. There are some things that should be further looked in to before doing this. The most important thing that needs to be taken into consideration is to determine how much sun your home gets on average. If your home is shaded, or you live in a relatively cloudy area, your power savings will not be as much.
Do you currently own a farm? If you own a farm, consider installing an energy turbine on your property, or renting land to a utility company for that purpose. The wind turbine will provide free energy without taking up much room. Your neighbors will also benefit from this energy source.
Heating your water with the power of the sun can be very efficient. If you live in a sunny climate, you can use a solar water heater year-round. Don’t get rid of your conventional water heater though; you may need it if it’s cloudy when you’re ready to use hot water.
Find out what energy options your community has available. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. You may find that switching to one or another may provide a reduction in energy use and cost.
On hot, summer days, hang your clothes outside. As well as drying your clothes, the sun can also help your clothes smell nice. Laundry will smell fresher and cleaner, much more so than when they were in the dryer. You will also save on your utilities bills by line drying your laundry.
Using the sun to heat your water is very cost effective. Consider a solar water heater. There are direct circulation systems and indirect ones. If frozen pipes are a concern where you live, the indirect option is probably better.
Storm Doors
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. Storm doors and windows decrease cold air from drafts. Installing storm windows and doors can increase energy efficiency by up to 45%.
Although not everyone believes that global warming is a threat, anyone can benefit from using green energy in the home. It saves plenty of money on the electric bill, by making just a few small changes to your daily life, such as shutting off the lights when not in the room.