Many people want to do their part to save the environment, but have no clue what actions they need to take to do so. The number of solutions available and the specifications of each one, can quickly become overwhelming for a consumer who only wants to protect the environment and save money. If you want to start using green energy, read the tips in this article.
Before you start incorporating green energy sources into your home, you should cut back on the amount of electricity you use. Make sure you’re not wasting power by leaving things turned on when you’re not using them. This way, when you make the switch over to alternative energy sources, you’ll be more efficient with your energy usage.
When building your home, pay attention to its orientation. An ideal home should be protected against overhead sun during the summer and be oriented so that it gets low-angle sun in the winter. This is a good way to save money on your heating bill and will keep your home cool in the summer.
Make use of fans inside the home. You can easily use floor fans or have a ceiling fan installed to increase airflow inside the home. You can use these even if you already have an air conditioner because you can turn the thermostat higher and just use the fans for air movement.
Make sure when you aren’t using something to turn it off. When you leave a room, take the time to turn off lights, the tv or the computer. You can save a lot of money on energy by investing into a new power strip for all of your electronics and turning it off when those electronics aren’t in use.
Take advantage of the sun by installing solar panels on your roof. These panels will harvest the energy from the sun and convert it into usable power for your home. Most energy companies will purchase any excess power that is created. You will discover at the least, a reduction in your power bill each month.
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.
Switch to low flow or dual flush toilets. These particular toilets only use 1.28 gallons for liquid flushes. Families typically use 20-40% less water by using them instead of average toilets. On average, a family can save up to 2,000 gallons of water per year! This can provide significant savings to your water bill, every single month.
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 consultants will visit your home, assess your energy usage, and provide options at several price points for making smart and economical green upgrades.
Replace your traditional holiday lights with strings of LED’s. A study conducted by the United States Department of Energy, LED lights over the holidays could save as much as two billion kilowatts of energy consumption annually. That is enough electricity to power 200 thousand homes for a whole year. An additional benefit to using LED lights is the savings you will receive on your electric bill.
In conclusion, not only are many politicians speaking about green energy, but it has become important since cheap oil cannot be found anymore. With the proper information, you will find it much easier to implement green energy properly into your home. Use the tips presented here, and you’ll soon be saving money and the planet at the same time.
