You don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to use green energy. If you make a few simple changes, you can cut utility costs and improve the environment at the same time. Keep reading to discover how green energy can be used for your advantage, as well as making a permanent positive impact on the environment.
Save Energy
Shading windows from sunlight whelps to save energy. Another suggestion for window treatments is installing curtains or blinds. Keeping your home cool in the summer means you will not be tempted to use the air conditioning as much. You will save energy and money.
Solar panels can be easily installed on your home and are used to collect energy from the sun for use in your home. Consider some things before you do this, as you will benefit from the thought process. What you need to know first is how much of the sun does your home generally receive? If you home is shaded, the amount of energy collected from solar panels will be greatly reduced.
Do you have a farm? If you have one, an energy company may be interested in renting a portion of the property to install a wind turbine. You will reap the benefits of this energy and the space needed is minimal.
Never run a dishwasher that is partly empty. A half load uses the exact same amount of water and energy as a full one. Using the air-dry setting will save energy when you run the dishwasher.
When you plan a solar system for your home, try calculating what the energy generation of your system will be when you use hours worth of sun in the winter. This can prevent any nasty surprises during winter, and it can leave you ahead in the summer. However, you should also include any refunds you will get from your utility company for excess energy generated in summer!
Make your home more energy efficient by purchasing energy saving products to help you save energy. Some green items, like environmentally freindly doors, will reduce your energy usage by a lot. Utilizing these kinds of products permits you to reduce the costs of cooling and heating your home.
Instead of utilizing a desktop computer which eat up lots more energy, purchase a laptop. Making this switch can reduce your power consumption by up to 75%. This is especially true if you are an Internet addict or do heavy word processing. Also, you can bring the laptop with you wherever you go.
Turn the heat down in your house. If it’s chilly, put on warmer clothes. When the heat is turned up to a high level, a lot of unnecessary energy is used.
Another great idea would be to use bio-fuels for house heating. This type of fuel is made of oils, wood and vegetable or animal fats. If you have a propane furnace, you may be able to have a professional retrofit your furnace to work with biofuel blend. This would be about 20-99 percent biodiesel. Talk to a pro before using this fuel inside your house.
Carpooling doesn’t have to be just for work. Kids can also form carpools to school by alternating parents days. If you love in close proximity to family members or friends, try to synchronize your shopping trips with them, and you can each take turns driving.
Energy Saving
A good energy saving tip is to switch your boiler. A lot of the old boilers weren’t constructed with energy saving in mind, as opposed to the newer ones which are much more energy efficient. New boilers create less carbon dioxide, keep you healthier, and save you money.
Turn off the lights when you exit a room. You may be shocked by the amount of electricity you can save by starting this simple habit. An additional benefit is the money you save on your monthly power bill.
Switch to a low-flow water-saving toilet. You can save a lot of water from being flushed away if you upgrade to an energy efficient model. An older model of toilet might use up to 5 gallons per flush, as compared to a lean 1.6 gallons for a water-saving model.
While many people do not see global warming as a threat, everyone can benefit from indoor green energy. It saves money on electrical costs, just by a few changes like turning off the light when the room is empty.