Green energy is something everyone wants to use, but there are not many sources available as of yet. There are some ideas in the following article, however, to help you use green energy in your home. Use this information to educate yourself about energy sources and better ways to care for the environment.
If you are repairing or replacing your roof, and you have good sun exposure, look into having photovoltaic (PV) cells integrated into the roofing material. Modern PV cells are much less noticeable than older styles. If you don't use all of the electric generated by your home, some utility companies will even let you feed it back into the system for credit against your bills.
Turn off appliances you aren't using. Make sure that all lights are off when you exit a room, and also consider switching off the power for your television set, computer and stereo. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.
If switching your home to solar power is beyond your financial capabilities, try switching just one room, like a bedroom, to solar power. There are solar kits available online that can help you green a room, and this will positively affect your energy bills and carbon footprint for years to come.
You can take advantage of solar power without investing in costly installation. Paying attention to window placement, insulation and landscaping is enough. Get rid of any trees that cast a shadow on your home, add more windows if a room is too dark and add insulation in the walls to retain the solar heat.
When planning the solar system used in the home, use winter sunshine hours to determine what potential energy generation will be. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, while leaving you safely ahead of your needs during the summer. If your electric company bills on net usage, you will actually make money because yu generate more power than you consume.
Replace your furnace with one that has the Energy Star seal on it. You can save 15 to 20 percent on your month energy costs if you purchase a highly efficient furnace. You can even get a federal tax credit that will help cover the cost of your new furnace!
A solar oven can be an easy and free way to bake. Solar ovens can be created with old windows, boxes, and foil. This oven uses only solar energy and can reach cooking temperatures in excess of 300 degrees.
If you, like many other people, wish to lead a greener life in order to help save our environment, there are many things you can start doing now. Many of these options will not cost you money, but will instead save you money, like cleaning your furnace filter monthly and turning down your thermostat when you are leaving your home. Lowering the temperature on your water heater to 120 can also help reduce costs. No change is too small.
If you are in favor of using green energy to save money as well as to help the environment, try using an energy system that omits fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, as these tend to emit carbon dioxide. Instead, use a renewable energy system such as solar, wind or hydro-power.
Only a small percentage of older homes are insulated. It will require an initial investment, but it will cost you much less to heat and cool your home every month afterward. Your heating and cooling system will run much more efficiently, and you will surely reap the benefits for years to come.
When you are cooking on your stove top, try to use a pan that fits the cooker ring just right. This will help to prevent heat loss. Also, when you can, put a lid on top of saucepans. In addition to heating your food up quicker, it will use less energy.
If you can not afford to get new windows that are more energy efficient, be sure to invest in some good shades. During the summer months, cover the windows during the day to keep the sun out. In the winter months, leave the window covers open to let the sun heat up the rooms; close them at night though to help keep the cold out.
As a way to live greener, purchase power strips for your home. In areas where you have multiple electronics, you can utilize these power strips as a central hub where you may shut off all power to these electronic devices when they are not in use. As an example, if you have a home office, by plugging in your computer, printer, wireless router, and desk lamp into a power strip, you can turn them all off with the flip of a single switch when https://www.google.com/green/ you are finished with your day's work.
You should always be using your ceiling fans, even in the winter. Switching them to the clockwise rotation lets them push the warm air from your ceiling where it collects, which reduces use of your heating appliances. Although these fans use a little bit of electricity, you'll save a ton because you won't have to use your furnace as much.
A great way to garden green and efficiently use green energy is to xeriscape. This means plant native plants in your yard so that there is less maintenance and energy used on it. You will save by not using a lawn mower and you http://www.callutheran.edu/financial-aid/scholarships-grants/outside-scholarships.html/ will not have to use energy on your sprinklers to water natural plants as often.
Try to be proactive, and take your frozen foods out early and allow them time to thaw in the fridge. This is not only a safer way in which food can be thawed, the cold air coming from the frozen food would help cool your refrigerator, reducing its energy consumption.
An excellent green energy tip is to purchase ENERGY STAR rated CFLs. Not only will they save you money over the long run. They produce about 70% less heat than a standard light bulb, are safer to use, and will lower home cooling costs. ENERGY STAR rated light bulbs also transmit light more effectively and evenly than the standard bulb.
As was mentioned at the start of this article, green energy has garnered quite a bit of interest in the media and amongst everyday people. Sadly, some people aren't sure how they can implement green changes to live a more sustainable life. This article provided suggestions for environmentally concerned and compassionate people.
