Due to the economic environment, green energy is getting less prominent than before. Green energy is an inexpensive way to keep other natural resources and it is also a way for people to spend less money in such economic times. Read on for some great ideas on how you can go greener with the use of energy in your home.

Choose solar-powered lights when installing outdoor lighting in your yard. These lamps are inexpensive and do not require any kind of power source other than exposure to the sun. You save a lot of energy in the process. Also, it will no longer be necessary to install wired outdoor lights.

Consume energy more wisely by unplugging your device chargers when they are not in use. Cell phone and mp3 chargers draw energy even if they aren’t charging anything.

Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Compare the costs of operating your home using several of these utilities, making sure to take into consideration any legislation with regard to energy costs that has recently been passed. Switching from electricity to gas, or from your city water supply to a well, may save you money.

Turn off electrical items whenever you aren’t using them. Turn off lights, televisions and computers if you leave a room and have no plans to return. Use power strips for your electronics, and make sure to turn it of when you are not using it. If it is in standby it’s still wasting power.

If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, do not operate before it fills up. Your dishwasher consumes the same energy and water, even if it is half full. When you do use the dishwasher, be certain to always use the setting for saving energy, which air-dries your dishes.

The power-storing batteries of your solar system should be installed close to the cells. This helps prevent power loss in the cables. It can also reduce the chance of a cable shading a cell, and reducing its generation capability.

To help prevent drafts, install storm doors and storm windows. Storm windows and doors prevent cold air drafts filtering into openings. Energy efficiency improves by 45% when storm doors and windows are implemented, which are big energy savers.

An easy way to cut energy costs and go green is to dress warm. If you wear a light sweater, you’ll feel two degrees warmer. A thicker sweater adds about four degrees. The more layers you wear at home, the less energy you will need to use heating your house.

Use a laptop rather than a desktop computer to save electricity and enhance your mobility. By doing this you could be saving around 75% off your electric bill, especially if you constantly use the Internet or type up papers. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!

Search for available rebates when you use renewable energy. Local utility companies may even offer rebates or other assistance with upgrades. Also, you will find that you can get a tax deduction or a credit from the federal or state government. You’ll find that these discounts can effectively reduce the price of adding green energy alternatives into your home.

You can save energy by switching your boiler. Old boilers were created without considering energy consumption, and new boilers are more efficient. Newer boilers produce far less carbon dioxide and reduce energy bills.

Use the microwave when you can in order to save on energy consumption. Your stove and your oven use a significantly higher amount of energy than does your microwave. Take advantage of the microwave whenever you can to cut down on your overall energy consumption.

Try to buy some bamboo models when you want to buy wood products. Bamboo is a green, grass product, but it is much stronger than most of the commercial wood types. Since bamboo grows quite fast it is one of the best renewable choices you can make. You can find a variety of bamboo products, from floors to furniture to cutting boards for the kitchen. That will save energy in production costs during manufacturing, as well as in recycling.

An excellent way to save energy in your home is to set the heat at 60 degrees when you are not home or during the night while you’re asleep. At 60 degrees, your home uses far less energy than keeping the temperature higher. As a result, you can minimize the energy you use, and save money.

Heat rooms separately. In order to do this, you will need to add a central control to your heating system that will allow you to select the temperature for each room. This is a wonderful solution for larger homes.

Thaw your food in the refrigerator to save energy. This is a safer and cheaper way to thaw your foods.

Perhaps you can’t power your entire home through renewable energy, but you may be able to start with a section. For instance, you can install just enough solar panels to heat your hot water.

Don’t drink bottled water. What a lot of people don’t know is that a lot of bottled water comes from the taps of other cities; a lot of energy is wasted in the process. You can use a water filter and a re-useable water bottle to get clean water if you’re worried about how clean your city’s water is.

You can start living greener with something as small as light-bulbs which use less energy or as large as a major home improvement such as new windows or better insulation. When you take the time out to do a few projects around the house yourself to live in a more green environment you can save a lot of money. You just need to choose one small project to begin making your home greener.

All of these tips make using green energy simple for the consumer, while also having a significant positive impact on the environment. Green energy is wonderful for money savings, and this article’s tips will help you see how easy it can be to implement these changes.