You don’t have to buy an electric car to make a difference!
Reduce the price of heating water in pools, hot tubs and inside your home by using solar-powered heating systems. Heating water with natural gas or electricity is not that efficient, but with solar energy, water takes the suns energy and keeps temperatures steady. Even though these upgrades can involve considerable expense, some of them might qualify as green energy tax savings.
It is also recommended to put filters on warm-air registers. This helps keep debris from blocking heating ducts and becoming inoperable.
Wash clothing in cold water whenever possible. Almost 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water. If you are using good quality washing detergent, you should have no problems using cold water.
Become a better energy consumer, and save electricity in your home by unplugging chargers for your electronic devices when you are not using them. Whether you are charging your device or not, chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cellphones and other electronics keep drawing electrical power as long as they stay plugged in.
Turn you appliances off when not in use. When you are ready to leave a room, televisions, stereos, computers, the overhead light. A power strip offers a handy way to shut down multiple devices at once, so consider placing one in a conspicuous place where many electronics are located.
Don’t run the dishwasher if it is less than totally full. It will use the exact same quantity of electricity and water or energy even if it’s not full. When you do use the dishwasher, ensure that you are using the energy-saving option, which air-dries the dishes.
Do you have a farm? If you or someone you know does, you can rent a piece of your land to a company looking to put in a wind turbine. You will reap the benefits of this energy and the space needed is minimal.
Solar power can heat water for a lesser cost. Consider investing in a solar water heater. There are direct circulation systems as well as indirect ones. Indirect is best if you have frozen pipes during the winter.
If you are thinking of installing a solar power system in your home, be sure to calculate your potential energy production using the amount of sun to expect in the cloudiest month. This prevents unpleasant surprises in the winter, and it can leave you ahead in the summer.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, a technician can give you information about changing over to biodiesel. Switching to biodiesel is often doable without system modification. Biodiesel is cleaner to burn than petroleum, making it more efficient to use in the wintertime.
Use a model which is tankless water heater instead of one that uses a tank style heater. Tankless water heaters do require energy for operation, but since they heat water on demand, rather than heating a tank of water that you’re not always using. Tankless heaters are available in models that supply the entire home or certain faucets.
Learn the differences between passive and active solar power.While passive simply using the sun in storing thermal energy inside your walls in order to heat your house.
Use window coverings when you’re not at home. This keeps your house cool and your energy costs down when you’re not there. Typically, the south facing windows are the ones that get the most amount of sun due to their location. Think about covering all of your windows with different types of shades and curtains.
Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer to save electricity and enhance your mobility.This could possibly reduce your electrical use by 75 percent, especially if the computer is on the Internet a lot or uses word processing software. The laptop has the added benefit of being portable, so it can be taken anywhere!
A solar oven can be an avid baker. These can be made with readily available items like an old window, box, and some tin foil. These ovens reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
When not being used, turn things off. When you exit a room, be sure that everything has been fully turned off. Use a power strip for your home electronics, and turn it off when you aren’t using the equipment. If something is left in standby mode, it is still wasting power.
There are a lot you can do if you want reduce your environmental footprint on the planet. Reduce water heater temperatures to 121 degress or less to save money as well. Every little thing you can do helps!
If you live in a neighborhood with lots of children, try setting up a carpool with other parents, where you trade rides with other parents in the neighborhood. You can also schedule grocery shopping and other errands with your neighbors.
One way to save energy is to limit the use of electrical heaters in the winter. Wrap up your family in warmer clothes and make use of your fireplace for added warmth. By inhaling cooler air during the sleeping hours, your breathing will be better as your airways are less likely to get dry.
Less Energy
Replace old major appliances with new ones featuring high Energy Star. Energy Star appliances are guaranteed to use less energy than previous models. For freezers and refrigerators, the rating guarantees 20 percent less energy used, for dishwashers 40% less energy used, and at least 50 percent when it comes to washing machines.
Increase your energy efficiency by making use of the right products that are designed for a greener environment. There are a variety of products, including eco-friendly doors and double-glazed windows that will make your home run far more efficiently. Using this type of product will cut down on heating and cooling energy costs.
Try using a toilet that saves water. Some estimates show that about half of all the water consumption in your home is flushed right down the toilet hole. An older model toilet uses a lot more water than a water-saving one, whereas a water-saving model only uses 1.6 gallons, almost 70 percent more.
Use energy efficient lightbulbs, change your furnace filer, and get a programmable thermostat to easily conserve energy inside your house. Be an example for family members so others will see how simple it is to live a greener life! Remember to start implementing these tips today.
Pay attention to local and federal rebates for renewable energy updates on your home. There are times when your utility company can offer discounts and rebates for your upgrade costs. In other instances, credit or tax deductions are offered by federal or state governments. These rebates, credits, and other allowances can make it much more affordable to install renewable energy equipment on your property.