If you are unfamiliar with green energy concepts, read on to find some great information that is simple to understand and simple to implement. It will help you make a difference in the environment, as well as to your home’s energy usage. Read on for some advice on how to use green energy in your own home.
A great tip for green energy use is to ensure that your home is properly insulated and has a high R value with the insulation. The best insulation has a higher R value. Not only will you save energy, but the additional insulation will keep out excessive noise from outside your home.
Get an energy audit of your home. Having your home inspected by a professional is the best way to find out how you could adopt alternative sources of energy. In some cases, the sun or wind exposure is simply not high enough to justify investing in alternative sources of power.
Warm-air registers, radiators, and baseboard heaters need cleaning at least once per year. It is best to clean these at the beginning of the cold season so they are ready to work at top efficiency once the weather turns cold. Clean heating units will distribute the heated energy evenly.
If you want to save energy, try not to use your dishwasher very often. Instead, let your dishes air dry. Dishwashers tend to use a lot of energy and because they use so much power, your electricity and your water bill will be through the roof. If you have to use the dishwasher, put it on a low setting.
Use rechargeable batteries. While they might cost a little bit more initially, they will save you a lot of money in the long run. Rechargeable batteries can be used hundreds of times, and they only need to be replaced about every five years. Another benefit is that you aren’t constantly adding corrosive batteries to the landfill.
The average washing machine uses a lot of hot water. It can use over 30 gallons each load. Cut down on its hot water usage by washing in cold water. Many people struggle with this because they insist on having the water warm. If you’re one of them, try replacing your machine with an Energy Star unit. Many modern detergents clean clothes really well at low temperatures.
One of the cheapest and easiest ways to make your home more energy efficient is by replacing all of your standard light bulbs with green versions. Not only do such bulbs reduce your energy bill through lower wattage and higher efficiency, but these bulbs are also made to last longer, giving you a two-fold return for your investment.
If you aren’t sold on making a large green energy investment at home, then bring in a professional heating expert or plumber to take a look at your existing systems. These professionals can point out inefficient appliances and systems, and they can also help you determine how much it might cost to upgrade them.
Investigate options for heating your oven through solar energy. You can make these with boxes, old windows or old pieces of foil that can be used for reflection. These types of oven can become very hot with adequate sunlight, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
Use solar water heaters as a great alternative to heating water with electricity. They use the sun’s energy to heat water for use in your home or business. The ideal location for a solar water heating system is a south-facing roof that is not shaded. Current technologies allow the system to blend in with your roof so as not to detract from your home.
As you can see, there are many ways to use green energy in your home to reduce your energy bills. As a bonus, greener energy is great for the environment as well. With the tips you have read here, it will not be hard to start going green.