More and more people today see the benefits of looking out for our fragile environment. One method for treating the environment better and saving money is to convert to green energy in the home. Continue reading to find out several ways to utilize green energy in your home.
The are several simple techniques to conserve energy. Unplug appliances that are not being used. Try turning off the TV and lights when they’re not in use. These easy ideas will help you save a lot of money over time.
Wear natural fabrics in the summertime instead of cranking up the air conditioner. Fabrics such as cotton draw moisture from the skin, which allows you to stay much cooler. Lighter colored fabrics will help you stay cooler without needing to turn on the air conditioner.
A good benchmark to use when determining how much power a new solar system is likely to generate is the number of hours of sunlight in the winter. This will ensure that you are not caught short during winter, and you have excess during the summer. Be sure to get a net-usage plan with the energy company so that you can get money from them when you put the surplus energy onto their grid.
Replace your tank-style water heater with a green, tankless model. These heaters only heat water when you need it rather than heating the tank constantly. This saves you on your gas or electricity costs. You can get a tankless heater that will supply the whole house or one that supplies a single hot-water faucet.
You can increase the energy efficiency of your home by buying energy saving products. Certain green products, like double glazed windows, eco-friendly doors and windows really help reduce the amount of energy needed to run your home efficiently. These kinds of products can cut down dramatically on your cooling and heating costs.
Desktop computers are very power hungry. Try using a laptop as an alternative. These portable machines will reduce your electrical use by 75% while you do everyday tasks. Laptops are also portable which makes them much more functional and handy in times of need.
Keep up-to-date with tax rebates for making your home more energy-efficient. In some instances, the local company gives rebates for upgrading to green tech. You may also qualify for tax credits or deductions from your state or from the federal government. The combination of rebates and tax credits will make it much more affordable to install green energy systems.
Buy a solar oven to provide for the needs of your kitchen. It’s fairly easy to make a solar oven using a discarded window box lined with foil to reflect the heat. These ovens can reach temperatures of over 300 degrees, and use no outside energy other than the sun. They can be made in minutes.
As you can see, there are many ways to lessen your carbon footprint by making practical changes in the energy efficiency of your home. The money that you save might well make it worth the time you have invested in the changes.