As with most people, you probably aren’t thinking environmentally when you make use of many products around your house daily. Whether you know it or not, your actions affect the environment. There are many ways to use green energy at home and protect the environment. Get some ideas for going green by reading the tips below.
To save money on your electric bills, simply try to minimize the electricity you use. When a certain appliance is not in use, unplug it. Be diligent about switching off the television or lighting if you aren’t using them. This simple little suggestion can save you money.
You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. Consider some things before you do this, as you will benefit from the thought process. Think about the amount of sunlight that hits your house on an average day. If the area is shady, or you are in a region that doesn’t receive much sunshine, then you won’t be gaining much power.
Clothes should always be washed in cold water, if possible. Almost ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine comes from heating the water for a warm or hot cycle. Cold water will do the job just as well; all you need is an effective clothes washing detergent. Additionally, do not run the washer until it is full so as to maximize your energy use.
Think about heating your water with solar water heaters. If you happen to live in a climate where freezing water isn’t going to affect you then you might want to invest into a system that circulates water through your solar heater before it is pumped into your home. You should still retain traditional water heaters for backup when the sun doesn’t show, or if you use a lot of heated water.
Discover all the different sources of energy in your community. Investigate costs for using those utilities, and be aware of any legislation about energy costs. For example, it may be cheaper for you to heat your home with natural gas as opposed to electricity, or use well water instead of city water.
If you want to reduce your carbon footprint as well as save some money, do a load of dishwashing only when the dishwasher is filled to capacity. Never run it with just a few dishes inside. It will likely surprise you how much you can actually put into your dishwasher when you load it properly. Align each dish carefully so that your dishwasher racks can accommodate the largest number of dishes.
If you would like to reduce the cost of your hot water, use solar energy. Buy a hot-water system that is solar-powered. You could choose of having an indirect or direct circulation system. If frozen pipes are a concern where you live, the indirect option is probably better.
If you are thinking of installing a solar power system in your home, you need to calculate the amount of power the system can produce using winter sunshine hours. This can prevent any nasty surprises during winter, and it can leave you ahead in the summer. Combining this method with a net utilities plan will mean getting back money from the electric company during the summer, too.
You may not always think of the damaging effects of your energy consumption on environmental quality. Now that you are aware of green energy and what it can do, you can make the necessary changes. Take just one small action from the tips you’ve learned here, and you’ll be on your way to saving the planet.