Green energy offers many environmental benefits, but it also offers economic benefits to you the homeowner. If you’re interested in having a greener source of energy for your appliances at home, keep reading this article for useful tricks on the things you can do.
Heat your pools, hot tubs and showers more efficiently with a solar hot water system. Using natural gas or electricity is not as efficient as solar power, and solar water heaters can keep the water temperature steady. You may get tax deductions to offset the expense of installing some of this technology.
Wear natural fabrics during the summer in order to avoid wasting energy on air conditioning. Cotton and linen wick away moisture from your skin so that you stay cooler. Choose lighter colors so that you feel cooler and can resist turning up the air conditioning.
You might be able to get a government grant to finance your green energy installation. Ask your local authorities what kinds of programs are available in your area. You might qualify for a solar or wind installation at no cost, or at least be able to deduct your expenses from your taxes.
Save electricity while becoming a more conscientious energy consumer by unplugging the chargers for all your electronic gadgets when they aren’t in use. Many chargers for various electronics continue to draw electricity even if they are not plugged into a device. The energy usage is not as high, but it wastes electricity and adds up to a considerable amount over time.
Replace or clean your furnace filter at least once every 90 days, and check it once per month for build-up. Install filters for your warm-air registers, too. Having filters prevents debris from building up inside your heating ducts, which would hinder the energy efficiency of your heating system.
Do things like wash your clothes inside some cold water, if you can. Almost all of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water. Using a quality detergent means it is unnecessary to use hot water. Additionally, do not run the washer until it is full so as to maximize your energy use.
Dry clothes outdoors instead of in the dryer during the summer. The sun could give your clothes an incredible smell. They’ll smell so much better than if you shoved them into a dryer! Additionally, you will save both money and energy.
Make sure when you aren’t using something to turn it off. When you leave any room, turn off lights, tvs, computers or any other electrical devices. Power strips are handy, because you can turn a number of devices off with the flip of one switch.
If you are really committed to going green, one way to do so is to limit how often you use your electric heater in winter. A fireplace for the living area, wearing warmer clothing and purchasing some slippers are all greener ways of keeping the family warm. Also, it has been shown that people sleep better in cooler temperatures.
Active Solar
Do some research and learn about passive and active solar powers. Active power is stored for use at a later time, passive does not require expensive cells to store the power. Active solar power requires solar panels, cells, and mechanical systems. Passive is just used via the sun for storing the thermal energy in the walls of your home to heat it.
Starting your focus on green energy in your household today translates into savings for you and your planet tomorrow. As you have read in this article, it is not that difficult or costly to go green and the benefits are enormous. Try out some of these tips in your home for greater efficiency and taking better care of the environment today.