It’s vital that we better care for the environment that’s critical to our daily lives. Leading the way with smart green energy choices will help you save money and demonstrate your commitment to a healthier environment. Here, we will discuss some of the choices that you can make to utilize and support the green energy movement in your own home.
Start small. Even if you don’t have the resources for a large-scale green energy project, there are still steps you can take. For example, solar chargers for small electronics generally only require the device to be set near a window for a few hours. Don’t underestimate the power of a small step.
You can take advantage of solar power without investing in costly installation. Paying attention to window placement, insulation and landscaping is enough. Get rid of any trees that cast a shadow on your home, add more windows if a room is too dark and add insulation in the walls to retain the solar heat.
If you are planning on installing solar panels, understand the amount of maintenance required. You have to keep the photovoltaic cells clean. If the cells are installed on your roof, this could mean climbing all over your roof as often as once a month. If you are not able to do that, you’ll need to hire someone.
Use solar hot water. By installing a solar hot water system, you can use solar power to heat the water you use for everything in your home. It will work for your showers, washing dishes and doing laundry. If you are worried about not getting enough sun, you can invest in a small, traditional water heater as well.
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.
Make sure that all heating and cooling units and registers are not blocked by furniture, window treatments, or kid’s toys. If a piece of furniture must be placed in front of a baseboard heater, leave a space of two feet. This may seem like a waste of space, but this allows you to avoid wasting energy.
Before you start shopping for a wind power system, know how much power your home consumes. In order to get the most out of a residential wind power system, it needs to be the proper size. If your property is hooked into a utility grid, your wind system should be sized to provide about 50 – 80% of your power needs.
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.
Use a laptop rather than a desktop computer to save electricity and enhance your mobility. Laptops use about 75% less electricity than desktops, especially if the desktop is being used for the Internet or software programs. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!
If a priority in your life is caring for the environment, you will hopefully find some tips you have learned today and find ways to use them in your home. This action minimizes the carbon footprint and makes your home much more energy efficient. The money you’ll save is an added plus.
