Do you know the advantages of green energy? Not only does it lower your electricity bill, but it also benefits the earth. What is it that you can do to help? Read the article below to find some of the best ways to go green.
Lower the heating costs of your water, hot tubs and pools by changing over to a heating system that is run by solar power. This is also a very efficient way to heat water and keep it at the proper temperature. These types of upgrades, while more costly at first, may qualify you for a green energy deduction on your taxes.
You might be able to get a government grant to finance your green energy installation. To find out which programs are available in your area contact your local government. There might be programs in your area that can allow you to install solar or wind energy solutions for free or with taxable deductions if you qualify for them.
Solar Panels
Solar panels can be easily installed on your home and are used to collect energy from the sun for use in your home. However, before you do this, there are a few things that you need to take care of. The most important consideration is how much your home is exposed to sunlight. If you home is shaded, the amount of energy collected from solar panels will be greatly reduced.
Be a smarter energy consumer by unplugging your electronic device chargers when they are not in use. They may not be currently in use, but items such as cell phone chargers, laptops and mp3 players draw energy when left plugged in.
If your home is heated with fuel oil, ask a technician if you can switch to biodiesel. Sometimes you can make the switch to some use of biodiesel fuels without having to purchase new parts or make costly modifications. Biodiesel burns much cleaner, is more efficient than petroleum, and will lessen the impact your home has on the environment in wintertime.
Maybe you can use solar water heaters instead of traditional heating methods. If you live somewhere where you don’t have to be concerned with temperatures that are freezing, you can use a system that circulates water through the solar heater before it gets pumped into your home. You still should keep your regular water heater as a backup because there may be times when there isn’t a lot of sun or you have to use a lot of water that’s hot.
One great way of conserving energy is to ensure the dishwasher is only turned on when full. Do not simply place a few dishes into it and run it. You’ll be surprised at how many dishes a dishwasher can load. Make sure you take time to place the dishes in properly so as to maximize the space available.
Replace your water heater and get a tankless model. Tankless water heaters do require energy for operation, but since they heat water on demand, power is not wasted by keeping a full tank hot 24/7. You can either get a tankless heater for your entire house or for a only one faucet.
If you are really committed to going green, one way to do so is to limit how often you use your electric heater in winter. Rather, purchase some warmer clothes for your family and use a pellet stove or fireplace to heat up the living areas. Also, it has been shown that people sleep better in cool environments.
Energy Expenses
Try to get your mail, like bills, sent to you through email. Go paperless with any company that has the option. This helps businesses you deal with reduce their energy expenses, and it helps you reduce energy expenses, as well. This also keeps the environment in better shape for everyone.
Instead of using standard lights for your next holiday season, make sure to use LED lights to decorate your tree and home. LED’s have been shown to save a significant amount of energy. Department of Energy, LED lights over the holidays could save as much as two billion kilowatts of energy consumption annually. That’s a large amount of electricity–it would power 200,000 homes over the course of the year. At a minimum, you will save a little money on your energy bill.
Carpooling for work and school activities can cut down on fuel usage. IF you’ve got kids, create a carpool system with other parents in the neighborhood. If you have family or friends close to you, try going to the grocery store together and taking turns driving.
On-demand water heaters are great energy savers. Traditional water heaters are always on and heating unused water, which is a tremendous waste of energy. Water heaters with on-demand technology heat water instantly when needed and reduce energy expenses.
Many people forget to turn off machines and lights that they aren’t using, even though it seems obvious. Just by simply being aware of things that are on, and making an effort to turn things off when not in use, you can substantially save on your energy bills. Consider what you actually use and unplug the rest.
Purchasing a programmable thermostat is also another great tip to help decrease your energy bill. You can pre-program the settings, so you can have a temperature that is constant. You can also set certain temperatures for the day and night hours.
Use rainwater for appliances like your toilet. Not only will your water bills be less, you will be helping the environment. It’s easy to collect rainwater in containers using something as simple as glass jars, or even buckets and barrels.
While a lot of people think about implementing green energy choices, most do not take it further than the fleeting thought process. This article gave lots of ideas to begin with, so you can live green for very little money and time.
