Green energy does several things, including saving our environment. From solar to wind power, there’s lots of ways to get eco-friendly energy. Do you want to add some green energy to your life? Keep on reading and find out.
You can cut your energy consumption by a lot if you just cut back on the electricity you use. When you aren’t using an appliance, unplug it. Turn off lights, television sets and other small appliances when you are done using them. This may be a simple tip, but it does save you money.
When it’s hot outside, wear clothing made of natural materials rather than running the air conditioner. Natural materials like cotton repel moisture from your skin and allow it to stay cool. Wear light colors because these will make you warmer and it will be less likely for you to use artificial cold air.
Clothes should always be washed in cold water, if possible. The vast majority of the energy you use for washing clothes is needed to heat the water. If your detergent is of good quality, you should have no problems using cold water. Furthermore, remember to always wash a full load, as this is more energy efficient.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, a technician can give you information about changing over to biodiesel. Many heating systems are able to change over to some biodiesel use without needing modifications or extra parts. Biodiesel is great because it is more efficient and produces less pollution that standard oil, which will reduce your carbon footprint.
Window Coverings
Use window coverings when you’re not at home. This cools down your house and lowers energy use. Usually the windows that face south tend to get more sun exposure. Therefore, it is especially important to use heavy window coverings on these windows.
Try solar water heaters instead of traditional ones. If you happen to live in a climate where freezing water isn’t going to affect you then you might want to invest into a system that circulates water through your solar heater before it is pumped into your home. If you live in a climate that faces cold winters, also install a traditional heater for your water.
Solar energy can heat water for a lesser cost. Check into investing in a water system that is solar-powered. You may pick between a direct or indirect circulation system. Most individuals will find the indirect option to be their best choice, as this option has methods in place to alleviate the problem of pipes freezing in the coldest months of winter.
When designing your solar PV system, try to locate the battery storage system as close to the PV cells as possible. This can stop power loss in the cable. It also lessens any chance the cable will shade the cells, which reduces their generation capability.
Swap out your tank water heater for a tankless type. 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. Tankless heaters can supply the entire home or certain faucets.
LED lights should be used during the next holiday season. A US study shows The Department of Energy says that if everyone did this, the country would conserve more than 2 billion kilowatt power hours. That’s a large amount of electricity–it would power 200,000 homes over the course of the year. At the very least, you can shave some money from your own power bill!
One option available to you for heating your home is biofuels. Bio-fuels consist of vegetable fat, animal fat, oils and wood. If you are currently using propane to heat your home, adjustments can be made to your system that will allow you to switch to using a blend of fuels. You would want to use roughly 20-99 percent bio-fuel, depending on your house size and what a professional thinks is right. Because this is a significant alteration, talk with a professional about the substitution before attempting to make any changes on your own.
Is your boiler over 10 years old? Buy a new one to save money! A lot of the older boilers weren’t made to conserve energy, yet newer ones were made to keep this in mind. They can reduce your energy bill and they don’t produce as much carbon dioxide.
While turning your lights off to save energy is old advice, it’s still relevant. It is amazing how the energy savings add up once you get into this habit. In addition, you will save money on your utility bill.
One of the simplest ways to be environmentally friendly is to install a water-saving toilet. Some estimates show that toilets account for 50 percent of the water use in a home. A water-saving toilet cuts that by about 70 percent.
Energy Star
A simple way to locate appliances and products that are energy efficient is to see if they have an Energy Star logo. ENERGY STAR appliances are designed to follow guidelines from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, they are generally more likely to have a tax rebate.
Create a high demand for green energy and you will help lower the price. Consumers have the power and right to insist on eco-friendly technology. The more anything is in demand the more these types of products are sure to be manufactured, most likely reducing their price as well. This will also tell companies who aren’t engaging in environmentally safe practices that they need to change or they’ll lose you as a customer.
Green Energy
It is more important than ever to increase our use of green energy. Of course it is true that there is no such thing as a source of energy that does not have some sort of environmental impact, but green energy is still far better than traditional energy. After reading this article, you can go green!