By Jeff Tormey - Incorporating green energy into your home is an easy way to reduce energy usage, and save the environment at the same time. Buying an electric car is not going to be needed! Read the article below for easy tips to live a green, energy-efficient lifestyle regardless of your budget.
Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees to save energy and money. Doing this can reduce your electric bill by up to 10 percent while keeping temperatures at a safe rate.
|Save electricity expenses by taking your laptop battery out and using A/C current when you are stationary. The battery uses energy, even when it is full. If you take the battery out, it saves kilowatts and helps improve the overall life of the battery, too.
|Write your congressman to advocate for regulations that require companies to use alternative energy sources. Merely being aware is a strong tool that isn't used much. If more companies were shown in their true light as energy wasters over profit, then they would not be so popular. If you want to encourage companies to become greener, raise public awareness of their activities in this area.
|Upgrade the cooling and heating system in your home to geothermal systems. HVAC systems use underground pipes containing water and refrigerant rather than conventional systems. These pipes contain refrigerants and water that are circulated through a machine that either cools or heats the refrigerant as needed. Since underground temperatures are steadier underground, these HVAC systems are more efficient.
During the summer time, you should consider drying your clothes using the sun as opposed to using the dryer. The sun can give clothing an incredible smell. They will smell fresher than if you used the dryer. You will also have lower utility bills.
|Do not forget the most basic ways to save energy, such as turning off the lights you don't need. You might be amazed at the amount of energy savings you can gain over time, simply by making it a point to turn off lights. Another benefit of turning lights off is that you can save money.
|To make you home greener, install a programmable thermostat. It can save you a significant sum of money your monthly energy bills. These thermostats can be programmed with your own preferred settings to regulate the air temperature in your home year-round. You could also make them regulate temperatures during day and night hours.
|Don't use electric heaters unless you have to during the winter months. You can save electricity by avoiding these devices. Instead, make sure each member of your family has sweaters, robes and slippers, and heat your living areas with a pellet stove or fireplace. In addition, this is beneficial to your health, as cooler air keeps your airways from getting too dry, allowing you to breathe easier while sleeping.
Before you decide on large energy-saving projects for your home, get a professional evaluation of your existing appliances, windows and insulation and your heating and cooling systems. They can tell you if your appliances are running efficiently, and if there are changes you can make. They may also be able to offer estimates as to what it would cost to replace or upgrade your existing systems.
|Green energy options continue to increase in popularity, with wonderful new options being created on a daily basis. If you need to make a change in your career or advise your children about their own choices, you should think about this sector. Find out more about the new jobs linked to green energies, such as a solar or wind technician.
|Use a dehumidifier to help cool your home. Humidity makes the temperature seem warmer. When it gets too hot, use a dehumidifier prior to using the air conditioner since this costs less and can make a difference. You may find that you do not need the air conditioner as much as you originally thought.
|There's lots of ways to reduce energy when you do laundry. First, use the sensor setting that automatically turns off the dryer when the laundry has dried. Make use of the high-spin speed in reducing the moisture in clothes. This will shorten your drying time. Be certain that you use clean filters for your dryer and also check for a blockage in dryer vents.
Thaw your food in the refrigerator to save energy. You will find that this is one of the safest options for thawing your meats, and you will also help to cool the other foods in your refrigerator by allowing your frozen products to release cold air as they thaw.
|Shading windows from sunlight whelps to save energy. You could also try putting in curtains or blinds. Since your home will become cooler, you will not have to use the air conditioning that much. You can save money and energy throughout the summer.
|Use Eco-friendly lighting. There are alternatives to incandescent lighting, such as using longer-lasting fluorescent bulbs. CFLs use a minute amount of electricity compared to incandescent bulbs. By using this type of bulb, you can make your home more energy-efficient.
|Check your utility bills against previous years' bills to see how you're doing in your efforts to go green. You should also write down your goals for energy efficiency and reminders to help you stay on track. Be more conscious of energy usage so you can reduce it. For instance, if your stated goal is to reduce your consumption of electricity and water, you are more apt to remember to turn off the lights and shut off the faucet when not using them.
Don't stop using your ceiling fans in the winter. Run fans clockwise to help circulate warm air throughout the house and reduce the need to use external heaters. The small amount of electricity needed to run the fans is offset by the energy savings from running your furnace less often.
|Use cold water in your washing machine. Most of the energy used to wash clothes is actually used in heating up the water. Just make sure you don't harm your clothes in the process; check out the labels on your clothes and make a judgment for yourself. Also, make sure your load is a full one so you do not waste energy washing several small loads.
|One of the simplest ways to be environmentally friendly is to install a water-saving toilet. Some estimates show that toilets account for 50 percent of the water use in a home. Older models used 5 or more gallons of water to flush; today's water saving models uses a little over 1.5 gallons per flush. That is a 70 percent water savings.
|If you'd like to be more environmentally friendly and cut down on your energy costs, try wearing warmer clothing. A sweater that is light can provide 2 degrees of extra warmth, while a heavy one provides 4. You don't have to worry about wearing too little at home so consider getting a sweater to save money.
The are several simple techniques to conserve energy. For example, when an appliance is not in use unplug it. Turn off the TV and lights when they aren't in use. This may be a simple tip, but it does save you money.
|You can start living greener with something as small as light-bulbs which use less energy or as large as a major home improvement such as new windows or better insulation. There are several projects you can undertake yourself at home which will save money and reduce your energy usage. Start off by choosing and implementing just one mini-project right away!
|Decide to receive your correspondence through email by opting out of receiving monthly statements. Go paperless with any company that has the option. Reducing your consumption of paper saves energy on production costs, along with the costs of shredding documents in your home. This protects the environment, too.
|Use solar-powered lamps for outdoor lighting. These lamps aren't very expensive and can save you on power bills because they're powered by the sun. This will end up saving you a lot of energy. It also means that you avoid having to go outside and wire up outdoor lights.
Get a greener home by making more responsible light usage a priority. During the brighter months, figure out when the sun starts to set and ask your family not to turn on lights until that time. You can use dimmers to adjust light usage to a lower amount, and timers or sensors can be used to be sure that lights aren't left on after someone has left a room.
|Cut down on air conditioning by wearing natural fibers in the summer. By wearing natural fabrics, such as cotton, you will keep moisture away from your skin and help it stay cooler. If you wear lighter colors, you will also feel cooler than if you wore black or another dark color.
|In the summer, set your thermostat five degrees warmer than you normally would. By doing this, you can save up to 20 percent on your cooling bill. To help get your home cooler you can run some fans to lower temperatures while avoiding the high costs to air condition your home.
|Try using a dehumidifier as an option. Humid air typically feels warmer. Run a dehumidifier in your home first before switching to run the air conditioner, because running an air conditioner will cost more in energy bills. You might be able to get away without using the air conditioner.
Look for appliances that have the Energy Star sticker or logo. ENERGY STAR appliances are designed to follow guidelines from the U.S. Dept. of Energy and also the EPA. ENERGY STAR products are useful for tax credits.
|Learn all you can about solar power that is active and passive. Passive solar power doesn't require the costly power-storage cells that active power does. Active power uses solar panels, cells and mechanical systems. Passive power uses the simple sun to generate thermal energy to heat your house.
|You can use biofuels as a heat source for your home. These fuels use fats, wood or oil to create energy. If you have a propane furnace, a professional can usually make changes that allow you to use this blend of fuels. This fuel would contain anywhere from 20-99% biodiesel. However, it is important that you seek professional advice before any attempt is made to utilize this fuel.
|Carpool so you can use less fuel. If you are a parent, set up a neighborhood carpool and take turns with the other parents. If you have family or friends close to you, try going to the grocery store together and taking turns driving.
It is becoming abundantly clear that now is the time to transform our energy sources from old, wasteful and pollutant to greener and more economical ways. Nearly every power source has an impact on the environment, but the use of green energy minimizes that impact. Hopefully, you can include some of the tips and techniques from this article into your life.
About the Author:
Your first step is to call your Value Lighting Energy Solutions consultant today. We can review your current lighting and recommend the right solution based on your specific property needs. Our team has been working with apartment owners, multifamily developers and property managers for more than 25 years. We provide the expertise, the widest selection of lighting products and the best pricing available for you to save money.
