Just thinking about major changes in the home to accommodate sources of greener energy is really overwhelming to most homeowners. You may not know exactly where to start, or what changes would be most beneficial to you while being environmentally friendly. The eco-friendly tips and techniques in this article can help you develop a green energy plan.

When drawing up the landscaping plans for a garden path or patio, incorporate solar-powered lamps. These lamps are cheap and don’t require any power besides sun exposure. This will save a lot of energy. This saves you money, and it also means you don’t need to wire the outdoor lights.

Use solar heating systems to heat all your water in order to save money. Using natural gas or electricity is not as efficient as solar power, and solar water heaters can keep the water temperature steady. Although these upgrades could cost a lot, they also might qualify for energy tax deductions.

Unplug your chargers when they aren’t being used to charge your devices. Chargers used for cell phones, laptops, mp3 players and other electronic devices use power when they’re plugged in, even if they aren’t charging your device.

Wind Turbine

Are you a farm owner? If you do, or if you are aware of someone that does, you may be able to rent some of the property to a local energy company that will install a type of wind turbine. You will benefit from the wind turbine’s free energy and it will take up minimal space.

Install batteries very close to cells when you are putting together a solar energy system. This prevents energy from dissipating in a long cable. This also prevents the long cables from casting shadows over the PV cells.

Take time to read about passive and active solar power. Passive solar systems are less expensive but cannot store energy like active solar systems do. In order to use active power, you will need to install a few things, including solar cells, mechanical systems, and most importantly, solar panels. Passive power uses the sun for thermal energy in the home.

Use a laptop computer instead of desktop, which uses much more energy. This can lower your electrical use by as much as 75%, particularly if you are someone who stays on the Internet for long periods of time. The other benefit to using laptop over a desktop is that it is portable, so it can be taken anywhere!

If you are trying to achieve a greener lifestyle, there are many options for you. Start with the simplest methods, such as setting your heating thermostat to 60 degrees while you are away from home, and cleaning your furnace filters every few months. Lowering the temperature on your water heater to 120 can also help reduce costs. Anything you can do will help!

A good energy saving tip at home when cooking is to always use a microwave when possible. Cooking food using the stove or the oven consumes a large amount of power. Any time you could perform a task in the microwave without altering the results, such as boiling water, do so. You can conserve a significant amount of energy this way.

All homes are built differently and are located in different areas. With all of the different variables, green energy technology will vary significantly for each area. Some work for all homes, while others work for only some. Use the advice given here to determine which technologies are best suited for your particular situation.