furnace filters | Green Living | Green living tips and advice

TIP! Changing your heating to solar water can reduce the price to heat your water, hot tub and pool. Solar water heaters are much more energy efficient than electric or gas-driven water heating systems.

There are quite a few ways to use energy that’s green in your house, and you’ll be surprised at how easy and cost effective they are to use. This article is your go-to guide for going green. It will tell you how you can make green energy a part of your life and realize the benefits of doing so.

TIP! Shading your windows from direct sunlight can help you use less energy. Curtains or blinds can also be used to do this.

Shading windows from sunlight whelps to save energy. Keep blinds closed and curtains drawn. Since your home will become cooler, you will not have to use the air conditioning that much. You will save energy, which will in turn save you substantial money.

TIP! Replace or clean your furnace filters yearly, and recheck them monthly. Install filters for your warm-air registers, too.

Your furnace filters should be replaced annually, and inspected for monthly cleanings. If your air intakes and registers do not have filters, take the time to install them. These filters keep children’s toys, dirt or dust from clogging the heating ducts.

Washing Machine

TIP! If you prefer to use your dishwasher to wash your dishes, only run it when it is full to capacity. It consumes the exact same amounts of electricity and water even if it’s not full.

Use cold water in your washing machine. If you use warm or hot water in your washing machine, almost 90% of your energy use goes towards heating the water. As long as you have reliable clothes washing detergent, using cold water is just as effective. In addition, remember to wash full loads to maximize energy efficiency.

TIP! The power-storing batteries of your solar system should be installed close to the cells. Power can be lost over long cables so this will lessen the impact.

One thing you might consider is heating your water with solar water heaters. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are not a problem, you can purchase a system that heats water through a heater that is solar before it pumps it in your home. Make sure you own traditional water heaters for backup during cold days.

TIP! If you are building a new home or are in the market for a new water heater, consider a tankless model. Tankless water heaters still require power to heat the water, but they heat only the water that you want to use, rather than heating a tank of water that you’re not always using.

During the summer months, hang your clothes outside instead of drying them in the dryer. The sun gives your clothes a great smell. You clothes will smell clean and fresh when line dried. Additionally, you will see a noticeable decrease in your utility bills.

TIP! Think about baking with a solar oven. You can make one with easy-to-find items like old windows, boxes, and aluminum foil to reflect light.

When implementing a solar energy system, put the batteries as close to the cells as possible. Power can be lost in long cables so this will reduce this possibility. This also prevents the long cables from casting shadows over the PV cells.

TIP! Try using LED lights as opposed to conventional ones for the next holiday season. A study conducted by the U.

Maintaining your refrigerator is an easy way to save energy. Since refrigerators tend to eat up a great amount of power, it is crucial you keep it in perfect working order. Keep heating coils dust free. Additionally, you should ensure that the door seal is both tight and free of dirt.

TIP! Replacing an old boiler can save energy. Older boilers are not as energy efficient as new ones because people didn’t worry about the environment when they were made.

Storm doors and windows can make air flow in the home better. Storm’s windows and doors cut down on the cold air that drafts can let in. Energy efficiency is increased by 45 percent in homes that have stormed doors and windows, which will save a lot of money on electricity.

TIP! Replace your older appliances with the newer, energy-efficient ones that have Energy Star ratings. This rating ensures that the appliance was built to use less energy than the other non Energy Star products.

Dress in warm clothes to cut costs! A sweater that is light can provide 2 degrees of extra warmth, while a heavy one provides 4. You do not have to wear a small amount of clothing at home, so put on a sweater and increase your savings.

TIP! One easy way to go green is to use an on-demand water heater. Traditional water heaters are always on and heating unused water, which is a tremendous waste of energy.

If you want to “go green” and do your part to help save the environment, you have a lot of options. Going green doesn’t mean you have to spend tons of money, as you can begin simply by setting the thermostat to 60 degrees for those periods when you are not home.
You can also conduct monthly cleanings of your furnace filters. Reduce your water heater to 120 degrees, this can save you a lot of money. The little things add up.

TIP! Although it is probably common sense, usually, most people forget to shut off lights and electronics when not using them. If someone did that every day, they would slash their energy bill a great deal.

The tips laid out here are easy and simple to incorporate into your life, so avoid excuses and don’t let them interfere with your use of this information. When you take the time to use green energy, you will feel peace of mind; start making changes today in order to enjoy the reward tomorrow.