Like most people, you probably don’t really think about the environment when you are at home, using energy. Surprisingly enough, everything in your home impacts the environment in some way. It is possible to make use of green technology to reduce your home’s impact on the environment. This article provides several ideas that will enable you to start utilizing green energy.
Think about getting solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. These lamps aren’t costly and do not need additional power sources other than direct sun exposure. You will not only reduce the energy you use. It will also save you money by not having to wire the outdoor lights to your home.
If you have a farm try some energy saving alternatives. Farms are the perfect place to put a wind turbine. If you don’t have a farm, you might be able to rent from someone. The wind turbine will provide free energy without taking up much room. Your neighbors will also benefit from this energy source.
Clean your furnace filters regularly and replace them at least one time a year. Adding filters to warm-air registers is also beneficial. This will prevent a reduction in efficiency, which occurs when the heating ducts get clogged with debris.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, a technician can give you information about changing over to biodiesel. A lot of existing systems can change to some bio-diesel utilization without modifications or using any extra parts. Biodiesel is cleaner and more efficient to burn than oil, and it has a better affect on the environment.
When away from home, cover the windows. This will keep the house cool and reduce energy costs. Typically windows on the southern side of the home receive the most sun. Think about covering all of your windows with different types of shades and curtains.
Think about heating your water with solar water heaters. This works best in areas where the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing. Solar energy systems circulate water through solar heaters and then pump it into the house. However, it’s best to keep a traditional heater for times when you need a lot of heated water, or if the sun does not come out.
Make use of your dishwasher only when you have a full load in order to save energy and money. A lot of energy is wasted when only a few dishes are washed at a time. Pack your dishwasher full, and you may be surprised at the amount it can hold. Make sure you take time to place the dishes in properly so as to maximize the space available.
If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, refrain from doing a load until the dishwasher is completely full of dishes. An equal amount of water and energy is used, whether it is full or not. When running the dishwasher, turn on the setting for energy conservation.
If you are planning a solar system for your home, be sure to calculate your potential energy production using the amount of sun to expect in the cloudiest month. That way you won’t run out of energy during winter months, and you will have more than enough in the summer. Also, if you make use of the net usage plan from your electric company, you will get returns from your utility company for generating energy during summer.
Replace an energy-hogging water heating tank with a greener, tankless variety. Even though you still need electricity or gas in order to heat water with these tanks, they use only the water you need instead of always keeping your whole tank heated. You can purchase tankless water heaters that are small enough to heat one faucet, or large enough to heat your entire house.
If you are on a mission to go green, start by keeping electric heaters off or on a very low setting during winter months. Buy more warm clothing and use a fireplace to add heat to your home. An additional benefit to limiting the amount of electrical heaters is that it helps prevent your airways from becoming dry, resulting in better breathing.
Desktop computers require a lot of energy, so why not opt for a laptop? This could possibly reduce your electrical use by 75 percent, especially if the Internet is used frequently or there is heavy use of word processing software. Another benefit of the laptop is that it’s portable, so it can be used anywhere.
Opt out of snail mail where possible, and choose to get bills and notices by email. Basically, this means using as little paper as possible. This helps businesses to save energy as well as consumers. Not only that, it is also great for the environment too.
Turn the heat down in your house. If you feel cold, put on a sweater or blanket instead. You waste a lot of energy if you put the heat on higher than necessary.
Make use of a solar-powered oven for baking. It’s fairly easy to make a solar oven using a discarded window box lined with foil to reflect the heat. These makeshift ovens can achieve temperatures of 300 degrees or more with no help from traditional energy sources, and they are simple to produce.
Watch your watt usage. A gadget like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt will help you discover which appliances are your prime energy consumers. By plugging any device into this gadget, it will tell you how much energy it consumes. This will make you realize what a given appliance costs you over the long run.
In order to keep up with energy efficiency goals, compare all your energy bills to previous year to see how much progress you are making. Increasing your consciousness of your energy consumption can help you cut back. For instance, reducing your electricity or water usage will get you into the habit of turning off appliance and lights when not used.
If you have not given much thought toward the environment in the past, you are certainly not alone. However, since now you know about green energy technology, you can make some changes. These tips will help you to improve the sustainable nature of your own home.