simple tips | Green Living | Green living tips and advice

TIP! You can cut your energy consumption by a lot if you just cut back on the electricity you use. Unplug appliances when they’re not in use.

Green energy is gaining more popularity in this recession. Since green energy is so inexpensive, many people are moving towards it. Learn how to easily begin converting to green energy by reading this article.

TIP! Use a solar-solar powered system to heat water. When you heat water with natural gas or electricity, it isn’t as efficient as using a solar alternative.

If you are trying to conserve energy in the summer, be sure to keep your shades drawn to block out the sun. Do this by installing blinds or curtains. If you do these things, you will cut your use of air conditioning throughout the warm months, as your home will be a bit cooler. You will save energy, which will in turn save you substantial money.

TIP! Solar panels can be easily installed on your home and are used to collect energy from the sun for use in your home. Before you do this, you should research just a few things first.

Try wearing natural fabrics in the summer as opposed to using the air conditioner. Moisture-wicking athletic fabrics pull moisture away from your skin, creating a cooling sensation. Wear light colors; dark colors tend to make you feel warm and you will be likelier to turn on the air conditioner.

TIP! It is important to clean your furnace filter on a regular basis to be sure you are using as little energy as possible heating your home. Warm-air registers should also have filters installed on them.

Every year, replace your furnace’s filters, and every month, see if they require a cleaning. Also install filters on air registers. This will help keep debris from clogging up heating ducts and becoming inoperable.

TIP! Use cold water for laundry, whenever you can. Almost 90 percent of energy consumed by washing machines is used when heating the water.

Take the time to properly maintain your refrigerator. Keep your refrigerator in tip-top shape, and running at maximum efficiency, with minimal effort. Make sure to clean heating coils often. Make sure door seals are clean and tight.

TIP! Run the dishwasher when it’s full instead of half-full in order to save energy and money. Try to refrain from putting small amounts in and running the dishwasher.

Storm doors and storm windows help to better control air flow in the home. These kinds of doors and windows reduces the amount of cold air that comes into the home. You can increase the energy efficiency in your house by up to 45 percent with stormed windows and doors.

TIP! Make sure when you aren’t using something to turn it off. Whenever you leave a room, get into the habit of turning off lights, televisions, and computers.

If you would like to live your life green, stay away from excess electric heater usage. Rather, purchase some warmer clothes for your family and use a pellet stove or fireplace to heat up the living areas. It helps breathing, and prevents dry airways if you make the air cooler during sleeping.

Passive Power

TIP! When implementing a solar energy system, put the batteries as close to the cells as possible. This avoids power loss in the cable.

If you are interested in solar power learn about the difference between active and passive power. Active power is power that is stored to be used for a later time, while passive power doesn’t require power storage cells. Active power requires the installation of solar panels, mechanical systems, and cells. Passive systems simply use the sun’s energy to heat your house or water.

TIP! Homes with storm doors and windows have better airflow than homes without these upgrades. Storm doors and windows lessen the amount of cold air drafts that come in.

Buy energy saving materials to help save energy in your home. Insulated double-pane windows and eco-friendly doors are especially effective for saving energy. You will also cut down on the cost to heat and cool your home by implementing these products into your life.

TIP! Do some research and learn about passive and active solar powers. Passive solar power doesn’t require the costly power-storage cells that active power does.

Explore the possibility of using a solar-powered oven for some of your baking needs. You can make one out of a box, wood, and some foil. These ovens reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees, while using no outside energy besides solar.

TIP! You can use bio-fuels to heat your house. Biofuels are usually composed of vegetable fats, animal fats, wood and oil.

When decorating for the holidays you should forgo traditional lights and get LED lights instead. A U.S. Department of Energy study shows that people waste a lot of energy on traditional Christmas lights. We could save at least a couple billion kilowatt hours if each person would make this change. That much electricity could power at least 200,000 home for a whole year. If nothing else, you can cut down your power bill!

TIP! Considering the purchase of a new boiler could save you money in the long run. Older boilers were not created with energy conservation in mind, but newer boiler varieties are more efficient.

The simple tips from this article on green energy will not only save people money, it also lets the environment become much more abundant. Going green with energy use is a great way to save serious money in this day and age of recessions and layoffs, and by applying the tips from this article, you will realize how easy going green can be.