If you aren’t too familiar with green energy, you are missing out. Not only does it save you some money because your traditional energy costs are lower, you can also know that green energy saves our natural resources and is cleaner and safer than traditional energy. Here are some ways to use green energy as soon as today.
If you are repairing or replacing your roof, and you have good sun exposure, look into having photovoltaic (PV) cells integrated into the roofing material. Modern PV cells are much less noticeable than older styles. If you don’t use all of the electric generated by your home, some utility companies will even let you feed it back into the system for credit against your bills.
Instead of using a clothes dryer, hang your clothes in the sun to dry in the summer months.
The sun can dry clothes quickly without using any power, with the added benefit of making your clothes smell extra-fresh. You clothes will smell clean and fresh when line dried. As well, you save quite a bit on monthly utility costs.
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.
In order to save energy at home, plug your electronics, including televisions and DVD players, into power strips and when you are not using them, turn off the power strips. Not only will you be preserving energy by doing this, but you will also be saving money on your electricity bill.
Replace an energy-hogging water heating tank with a greener, tankless variety.
These still use gas and electricity to heat water, but they heat only what you use instead of continuously heating the whole tank. You can purchase tankless water heaters that are small enough to heat one faucet, or large enough to heat your entire house.
Look into using recycled or rechargeable batteries for the items that require batteries. Disposable batteries cost a lot of money to produce and they also contain toxic chemicals which are bad for the environment. By switching to recycled or rechargeable batteries, you will be keeping these chemicals away from our environment.
A wind turbine could help you cut down your electric bill by as much as 90%. Before you invest in this type of equipment, find out if the wind is strong enough to produce the amount of energy you need and get a professional to help you choose the right size of turbine.
A high-efficiency furnace becomes far less efficient with a clogged, dirty filter, so change your furnace filters often.
This is especially important if you use tightly-woven pleated filters, because the HVAC system must work much harder to draw in air through its tiny openings. Most filters need to be changed or cleaned at least once every 3 months.
Try switching to CFLs. The compact fluorescent bulbs tend to use about 75 percent less energy than the traditional incandescent bulbs do, plus they last around 10 times longer. They are pricier than the traditional bulbs, but it takes only a few months to make up for it in energy savings.
Buy a solar water heater for your home. Water heaters consume a massive amount of electricity every day, even when not in use. By purchasing a water heater that harnesses energy from the sun you will see an instant reduction in your power bill. Make certain that it is well insulated.
If you are still using a more traditional source of energy, invest in a programmable thermostat.
This will let you pre-set your temperatures for both day and night times. This leads to savings in both money and energy as during the night many people allow their homes to cool down via the natural decrease in temperature.
If at all possible, consider switching your electric or oil heating to gas. This is both better for the environment and your pockets. Just be aware that this is can be a complicated job that should be taken on by a skilled expert, should you decide to make this switch.
Stay in control of your energy consumption by getting a Bye Bye Standby device. This device is basically a motherboard into which you can plug in all your devices. You will be able to completely turn on and off any device that you are not using through this panel. It also gives you access to information about your power consumption.
Using green energy can save natural resources, and it will also save you some money. Use the tips in this article like a springboard, and let them get you started on a lifetime of green energy use. You will soon find that green energy is cheap, fun, and give you a sense that you are helping the world.