Protecting the environment while also reducing your energy bills is simple by using green energy. You don’t need an electric car for this. Read here to find some ways to lower your electric bills as well as make the environment cleaner.

Solar water heaters are a great option and can significantly decrease the cost involved with heating all of the water in your home. Both natural gas and electricity are inefficient heating methods, while solar water heaters use the sun to constantly heat your water. These upgrades may cost more, but qualify for tax deductions, too.

Wear natural fabrics instead of always using the air conditioning during summer. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw the moisture further from your skin and let it stay cooler. Wear lighter colors, as warmer colors make you feel warmer and more likely to put on artificial cold air.

The government has made grants for investing in renewable energy available to the public. If you are interested in getting free money to improve your home you should contact your local government for more information. You could qualify for a no-cost wind or solar installation, or at the very least, receive a tax deduction.

Whenever possible, you should use cold water to wash your clothes. Almost 90 percent of energy consumed by washing machines is used when heating the water. Cold water will do the job just as well; all you need is an effective clothes washing detergent. Additionally, always wash with a full load of laundry, as this helps to lower the amount of energy you use.

Speak to a technician to find out if your fuel oiled heating can be changed to an alternative fuel, such as 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.

Save money and energy by only running your dishwasher with a full load of dishes. Don’t run it with just a few dishes. Pack your dishwasher full, and you may be surprised at the amount it can hold. Place the dishes in your dishwasher so you can fit in as many dishes as possible.

Turn you appliances off when you are not using them. Any rooms in the home that are vacant should not have any electronics or lights left on. Use power strips for your electronics, and make sure to turn it of when you are not using it. If it is in standby it’s still wasting power.

You can conserve energy by doing things like using more efficient light bulbs, changing your furnace’s filter, and installing a thermostat that is programmable. Set the example for those around you, and you will see that they quickly follow suit once they see how simple it is to be green. Keep these tips in mind and put them to good use today.