It’s simple to reduce the amount of energy your home is using, or make it more green. You can decrease your carbon footprint by implementing a few changes, big or small, that will help you save money in the long term. The article below is here to help you get started.
Solar panels can be easily installed on your home and are used to collect energy from the sun for use in your home. But before you do this, there are a few things you must take into account. One thing to factor into your considerations is the amount of sun your house actually gets over the year. You are not going to get much solar power if your home has too much shade.
If you use heating fuel, ask a professional if you can convert your system to bio-diesel fuel system. Many systems allow a switch to biodiesel or biofuel with slight modifications. Bio-diesel is more efficient and burns cleaner than conventional petroleum, which in turn, reduces the environmental impact from your home during the winter.
Check out all the different resources your community has available for energy. Compare the costs of various utilities, and take current or pending energy legislation into consideration. You might find savings by switching from electric to natural gas for heating, or to well water from city water.
Run the dishwasher when it’s full instead of half-full in order to save energy and money. Do not simply place a few dishes into it and run it. Once you learn how to properly fill a dishwasher, you will be amazed at the number of dishes that can be washed in one load. Take care to line up your dishes, so you are able to put in as many as you can.
Use solar energy to provide hot water cheaply. Consider a solar water heater. There are both direct and indirect circulation options to choose from. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.
Use a tankless water heater instead of one that uses a tank. Tankless versions still need electricity or gas to heat water, but they are more effective in heating solely the water necessary instead of a huge tank of water constantly. Tankless heaters can supply the entire home or certain faucets.
Active Systems
Learn about the differences between passive and active solar power. Active systems store the solar energy for use later, while passive systems just use the sun’s heat as energy. Active systems are what you would normally think of when you think of solar–PV cells, mechanical parts, and storage devices. While passive is simply using the sun to store thermal energy inside your walls to heat your home with.
Use energy saving products throughout your home to increase efficiency. Certain green products, like double glazed windows, eco-friendly doors and windows really help reduce the amount of energy needed to run your home efficiently. By installing these products, your home is sealed tighter, and you use less energy to heat and cool your home.
If you don’t know what changes to make, consider having a heating expert or plumber come to your home and give you a list of changes you can make to cut your energy costs. They can give you estimates on how much energy you are wasting, as well as how much it costs to upgrade.
Start using as many of these ideas in your own home as you can. Energy bills will decrease and you will protect the environment, too! Your home can be very green if you make a few changes at a time.