Just thinking about making green energy changes to a home can be stressful to some homeowners. It is tough to understand where to start and how to improve the environment (and your life) the most. This article can help you learn how to make your home as green as it can be.
Shading your windows from direct sunlight can help you use less energy. Shading the windows with curtains and blinds will keep out the sun in summer and keep the heat from escaping in winter. Less heat will be allowed in, and your summer air conditioner costs will be greatly reduced with just these two simply steps You will save both money and energy in the process.
Make your home more energy efficient by unplugging your unused electronic devices. Even if you are not charging your laptop, cell phone or mp3 player, just having it plugged in uses energy.
If you use a dishwasher to clean your dishes, do not run it until it is completely full. The dishwasher uses the same energy when full that it uses when empty, but you’ll have to run it less often. When the dishwasher is used, it is also important to use the main energy-saving feature, which air-dries the dishes.
When you plan a solar system for your home, try calculating what the energy generation of your system will be when you use hours worth of sun in the winter. This will guarantee you energy no matter the weather, and it will have you entering the summer safely without energy concerns as well. If you are on a net usage plan, during the summer, you’ll receive money back from the utility company for the energy you generate!
Try to get your mail, like bills, sent to you through email. Try to use paper as little as possible. This doesn’t only help you communicate and save electricity, it will lower your bills as well. This benefits everyone in society along with your own business.
Make use of a solar-powered oven for baking. It’s fairly easy to make a solar oven using a discarded window box lined with foil to reflect the heat. These makeshift ovens can achieve temperatures of 300 degrees or more with no help from traditional energy sources, and they are simple to produce.
Rating Guarantees
Replace old appliances with those labeled Energy Star. The Energy Star rating guarantees that the appliance you are using has been built to use much less energy than its non-rated predecessor. This rating guarantees 20% less energy for freezers and refrigerators, 40% difference for dishwashers, and 50% for washing machines!
Use a microwave as often as you can to save energy at home. Any time you cook something on the stove or in the oven it tends to use up a ton of energy. When you can cook food in your microwave, do it and cut down on your energy usage.
Each home is laid out differently. With all of the different variables, green energy technology will vary significantly for each area. Some green technologies are suitable for every home, while others won’t be. Research and focus on tips and ideas that work for your particular home and then make use of them.