TIP! Consider outdoor lighting, such as garden or patio lighting, that is solar-powered. Solar-powered lamps are usually inexpensive, and they don’t need any power source besides the sun.
It isn’t always hard to be a bit more green. Simply making small changes in your home could reduce electricity bills, and offer a lot of benefits to our environment. Follow this article’s tips to learn how you can use green sources of energy to cut costs and reduce your environmental impact.
TIP! Installing solar panels is a great way to save electricity. However, there are several things to consider before making any decisions.
Consider installing solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. They are not only affordable, but they do not have to be hooked up to any power source, needing only good access to sunlight. They also save energy. You also don’t need to hang lights or wires outdoors.
TIP! Check monthly to determine if your furnace’s filters need cleaning and replace them yearly. It is also recommended to put filters on every register in your home.
Do you have a farm? If you own a farm, consider installing an energy turbine on your property, or renting land to a utility company for that purpose. You and the neighbors can relish in the free energy and installation, if it doesn’t require too much space.
TIP! If you use fuel to heat your home, ask a professional about using biodiesel instead. Depending on your system, you may be able to switch to biodiesel without having to make any modifications to your system.
Research different types of energy sources which may be available in your area. Checking the costs of running a home with utilities should also include recent legislation about energy costs. It may be beneficial to switch from electric heat to natural gas heat, or from city water to well water, for example.
TIP! Solar water heaters are an inexpensive and efficient way to heat your home’s water. If freezing temperatures are never a concern in your area, consider a system that circulates water through solar heaters before sending it into your house.
Don’t run the dishwasher unless it is filled to capacity. You will use just as much water and energy to run a half-empty dishwasher as a full one. When you do run the dishwasher, make sure to use the energy saving setting, which will allow your dishes to air-dry.
TIP! Watch for state and federal tax incentives for upgrading your home to use renewable energy sources. In a few cases, local utility companies tend to offer rebates for expenses associated to upgrades.
If you are planning a solar system for your home, be sure to calculate your potential energy production using the amount of sun to expect in the cloudiest month. This will guarantee you energy no matter the weather, and it will have you entering the summer safely without energy concerns as well. However, you should also include any refunds you will get from your utility company for excess energy generated in summer!
TIP! Opt for emails over paper whenever possible; get on no-mail lists for catalogs and junk mail. In other words, choose to go paperless in any way you can.
If you can afford it, invest in a laptop rather than using a desktop as they tend to use more energy. This could possibly reduce your electrical use by 75 percent, especially if the Internet is used frequently or there is heavy use of word processing software. Another benefit of the laptop is that it’s portable, so it can be used anywhere.
Energy Expenses
TIP! Create reminders for yourself in order to stay focused on your energy efficiency goals. Try to check your utility bill occasionally in order to see the progress you are making.
Have your friends and business associates contact you via email rather than snail mail. Basically, this means using as little paper as possible. This helps businesses you deal with reduce their energy expenses, and it helps you reduce energy expenses, as well. In addition, it also protects the environment.
TIP! A good tip for saving energy is to change your boiler. Many old boilers were not made with saving energy in mind, whereas new boilers tend to be more energy efficient.
Keep track of how many watts you’re using. Use gadgets such as Kill-A-Watt or Watt Minder and figure out what your consumption is and where it is coming from. Plug the appliance into the device, and it can tell you the amount of energy it uses within an hour, month, or even a year. This can let you see how much your devices really cost you.
TIP! An old, yet good tip, for those looking to save on energy is to turn off your lights whenever you leave a room. You can actually save a lot of energy if you just take the time to turn off all the lights in your house when you aren’t using them.
In order to keep up with energy efficiency goals, compare all your energy bills to previous year to see how much progress you are making. The more aware you are of using energy, the easier it is to reduce your energy use. For instance, if your stated goal is to reduce your consumption of electricity and water, you are more apt to remember to turn off the lights and shut off the faucet when not using them.
TIP! Water heaters with on-demand technology exist today, and they are a great way to use green energy. Instead of constantly heating water, these newer heaters heat it only as necessary so that you don’t waste energy.
Some people deny that global warming exists, but even these people can still personally benefit from green energy technology. It saves money on electrical costs, just by a few changes like turning off the light when the room is empty.
