It’s easier than you think to reduce your home resource consumption. With a few simple changes and perhaps some bigger ones, you can lower your carbon footprint while cutting down on energy costs. This article provides several great ideas that you can use to get started.
If you are trying to conserve energy in the summer, be sure to keep your shades drawn to block out the sun. You can do this by putting up blinds or curtains. These actions will reduce the air conditioning usage during the hot summer months, and yet your home will still remain cooler. You can save money and energy throughout the summer.
Wear natural fabrics instead of using the air conditioning in the summer. Cotton and similar fabrics will draw moisture from your skin, so you will stay cool. Light colors help you to feel cooler than darker or warmer colors.
Maintain your furnace to save energy. Replace filters annually and clean them once a month. Adding filters to your warm-air registers is not a bad idea, either. This reduces debris and small toys from falling into the ducts, which will make them less efficient.
Cover your windows when you are away from home. This will help save energy. Your house will stay cool and you won’t use as much energy this way. Usually, the windows facing the south get more sun because of where they are in the house. Install window coverings like heavy curtains, drapes, roman or roller shades, or blinds on all windows.
A solar water heater may be a viable option in your home. If your location does not get too cold, purchase a system that puts the water in a solar heater prior to coming to your home. Even though solar water heaters are useful, it is still necessary to have a normal water heater for periods of extended cloudy weather or unusually high hot water use.
One way to be environmentally friendly is to only run the dishwasher when it is completely full. A lot of energy is wasted when only a few dishes are washed at a time. With a little effort, you will be amazed by how much you can fit in one load. Make sure you take time to place the dishes in properly so as to maximize the space available.
Turn off appliances if you are not using them. Whenever you leave a room, get into the habit of turning off lights, televisions, and computers. A power strip should be used for electronics and can be easily turned off when not needed, since the standby mode is still utilizing power.
Hot water can be obtained in a low cost, environmentally friendly manner through solar energy. Install a water heating system that uses solar power. Two types are available, direct and indirect. The indirect system is best if you don’t want to worry about your pipes freezing in the winter.
Use the helpful ideas provided here to find ways to incorporate green energy resources in your home. You will be saving the environment and reducing your bills at the same time. Even small changes can set you on a path toward a greener lifestyle.