Improving your home by installing solar panels can help save both energy and money, as you may be aware. There are many reasons to buy solar panels for the home, including tax deductions. Read this article for tips on using solar panels and other green alternatives.
One of the simplest ways to help save the environment is to use less energy. If you have appliances that are not in use, keep them unplugged until you need them. Turn off lights and the television when you are finished using them. This little tip will save you money in the long run.
To reduce energy usage, sahe your windows to keep out sunlight. You can do this by putting up blinds or curtains. Doing these things will let you use less air conditioning in the summer. The result is a significant energy savings and money in your pocket!
Unplug your chargers when they aren’t being used to charge your devices. Many chargers for various electronics continue to draw electricity even if they are not plugged into a device. The energy usage is not as high, but it wastes electricity and adds up to a considerable amount over time.
Maintain your furnace to save energy. Replace filters annually and clean them once a month. Filters can also be installed in every warm-air register. These filters keep children’s toys, dirt or dust from clogging the heating ducts.
Try drying your laundry outside in the sun whenever possible, rather than using a dryer. The sun could give your clothes an incredible smell. Laundry will smell fresher and cleaner, much more so than when they were in the dryer. You will also save money on utility bills by doing this.
Solar Energy
Solar energy can heat water for a lesser cost. Simply put, all you need is a hot water system that uses solar energy. You could choose of having an indirect or direct circulation system. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.
Storm doors and storm windows help to better control air flow in the home. Storm doors and windows decrease cold air from drafts. Sometimes electric savings can be up to 45 percent on homes that have storm windows as opposed to single pane windows.
Swap out your tank water heater for a tankless type. Even though you still need electricity or gas in order to heat water with these tanks, they use only the water you need instead of always keeping your whole tank heated. Tankless water heaters are available to purchase in many different sizes; you can heat water for your whole house, or just a single faucet.
Use electric heating sparingly in the winter. You can invest in warmer clothes and take advantage of your fireplace or pellet stove in order to heat your living areas. Cool air helps sleeping patterns, as well as improving breathing.
Use energy saving products throughout your home to increase efficiency. Look into different green products like eco-friendly doors, double glazed windows, or anything of the sort as they can help reduce the required amount of energy it takes to operate your home. If you use these products extensively, you will see quite a bit of savings on your energy bills.
If you’re unsure about green investments, get an expert to provide a consultation that will optimize your energy usage. They will let you know how costly your appliances are, and they can give a detailed estimate on how much the costs will be to replace or upgrade your existing systems.
Keep an eye on how many watts of electricity you use. If you do not know the formula to figure out the energy each appliance uses, there are tools like a Kill-A-Watt that can give you the information instantly. All you have to do is plug the appliance directly into the device so that it can calculate how much energy is being used per hour, month, or year. You can get a real idea of what your appliance is costing you and the environment.
A microwave is a more energy efficient appliance than a stove, so consider using it more often. Any time you use the oven or stove, you’re using a lot of energy. By using the microwave, you are cutting down the amount of energy you use a great deal.
Consider replacing your wooden products with bamboo when buying new. Bamboo is technically grass and is a “green product”, but it is often much stronger than other available woods. Bamboo grows quickly and it used for several products including flooring. This will reduce energy consumption for the production and recycling of manufacturing items.
Use motion detection sensors on lights in the most popular rooms of your house. These sensors automatically shut off the lights to vacant rooms, which saves both energy and money. Don’t forget to install the outdoor sensor lights in your garage, too!
60 Degrees
You can save energy by setting your heat to 60 degrees at night or when you aren’t home. 60 degrees is the target temperature at which your heater will be consuming the least energy. If you do this, you can cut down your energy usage and save money at the same time.
Put solar panels on the roof to make the home greener. Adding solar panels does require a significant investment amount up front, but the cost savings of using solar power over several years will more than make up for it. After your panel is installed, you can get solar energy for free and you could also sell a part of the power to electric companies.
In conclusion, solar energy can have many benefits for the homeowner. They are widely available, install easily, and can last decades. When you install solar panels into your home, you “go green” and help out the environment.
