It doesn't have to cost a lot of money nor take a lot of time to go green. By just switching up a few things, your home can use much less energy. Keep reading to discover how green energy can be used for your advantage, as well as making a permanent positive impact on the environment.
If you want to be green while saving money in the process, then consider lowering your hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees. You may save up to 10 percent of your energy costs without sacrificing the temperature of your water. Decide to receive your correspondence through email by opting out of receiving monthly statements. In other words, choose to go paperless in any way you can. Going paperless helps the environment by limiting the amount of deforestation as well as the energy costs associated with paper communications. Not only that, it is also great for the environment too.
It might seem like common sense, but a lot of people don't turn off their lights, machines and other electronics when they are not being used. Most people could probably save a ton on utility bills by getting in this habit. Always take a few minutes to think before you leave your home and turn off all your appliances.
Investigate all of the energy sources your community has to offer. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. For example, it may be cheaper for you to heat your home with natural gas as opposed to electricity, or use well water instead of city water.
While solar energy may not be a whole-house option for your home, consider a partial solar set-up that can offset part of your utility consumption. You can use solar panels for hot water, for example.
When it's hot outside, wear clothing made of natural materials rather than running the air conditioner. Cotton and other natural fabrics actually remove moisture from the skin, resulting in a cooler feel. Wearing lighter colors will also help, because they tend to reflect light.
Using bright and light wall colors is an easy way to conserve electricity. Darker wall colors aren't recommended because it takes more energy to light them up and that makes them less green than a brighter space. If you choose lighter colors instead, your home will naturally feel brighter, and save you money in energy expenses as well.
Wash clothing in cold water. Almost 90% of energy used for doing laundry is due to heating the water. Washing your clothing in cold water will get them just as clean as washing them in hot water if you have a good laundry detergent. It is also better to clean a full load, not smaller loads.
Change your thermostat settings so they are in line with the seasonal temperature. During cold winter months, drop the thermostat a degree or two, and for the hotter summer days, raise it a bit. It is much more economical to add or remove a layer of clothes than it is to crank up the heat or air-conditioning.
You can consider getting solar water heaters to heat your water. If you live in a sunny climate, you can use a solar water heater year-round. You should still retain traditional water heaters for backup when the sun doesn't show, or if you use a lot of heated water.
A solar oven can be made to assist you in your baking needs. You can make these with boxes, old windows or old pieces of foil that can be used for reflection. These ovens reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees, while using no outside energy besides solar. You can save energy while doing your laundry in several ways. Use a dryer with a moisture sensor that shuts the dryer down when the clothes have finished drying. Use a higher speed for the spin cycle to reduce the drying time. It is also important to consistently clean your filter and prevent blockage in your vent.
When cooking in pots and pans, use tight-fitting lids. Adding a lid traps heat inside the vessel, so you can keep the burner temperature lower and save energy.
The insulation in your home can be useful in having a home that is warm and green. Houses older than three decades could use more insulation. A home that has adequate insulation will require less energy to keep it warm.
Get a greener home by making more responsible light usage a priority. Don't turn on the lights until a certain time, during the brighter months. Use dimmers to cut down on light use, and use sensors and timers to make sure that lights aren't kept on if no one is inside the room.
Put your refrigerator and freezer units in a low-temperature location in your home so that they stay cool with less energy. They should be kept out of sunlight as well as away from heating vents. Heat from any source will cause these appliances to run longer.
If you cannot use solar energy or a green energy source to power your entire house, attempt to use green energy for some of the house. You can use solar panels to heat water, for example.
Green electronics may seem expensive in the beginning; however, the amount of energy saved will pay off over the life of the equipment. Green technology may be more expensive at first, but your utility bills will be reduced. These electronics will also be beneficial to the environment in the future.
Monitor your electricity consumption watt by watt. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. All you have to do is plug the appliance directly into the device so that it can calculate how much energy is being used per hour, month, or year. You can learn how much your appliances are costing you.
Green energy can benefit anyone, whether they think global warming is real or not. Green energy not only protects the environment, but also saves money.
If you want to be green while saving money in the process, then consider lowering your hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees. You may save up to 10 percent of your energy costs without sacrificing the temperature of your water. Decide to receive your correspondence through email by opting out of receiving monthly statements. In other words, choose to go paperless in any way you can. Going paperless helps the environment by limiting the amount of deforestation as well as the energy costs associated with paper communications. Not only that, it is also great for the environment too.
It might seem like common sense, but a lot of people don't turn off their lights, machines and other electronics when they are not being used. Most people could probably save a ton on utility bills by getting in this habit. Always take a few minutes to think before you leave your home and turn off all your appliances.
Investigate all of the energy sources your community has to offer. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. For example, it may be cheaper for you to heat your home with natural gas as opposed to electricity, or use well water instead of city water.
While solar energy may not be a whole-house option for your home, consider a partial solar set-up that can offset part of your utility consumption. You can use solar panels for hot water, for example.
When it's hot outside, wear clothing made of natural materials rather than running the air conditioner. Cotton and other natural fabrics actually remove moisture from the skin, resulting in a cooler feel. Wearing lighter colors will also help, because they tend to reflect light.
Using bright and light wall colors is an easy way to conserve electricity. Darker wall colors aren't recommended because it takes more energy to light them up and that makes them less green than a brighter space. If you choose lighter colors instead, your home will naturally feel brighter, and save you money in energy expenses as well.
Wash clothing in cold water. Almost 90% of energy used for doing laundry is due to heating the water. Washing your clothing in cold water will get them just as clean as washing them in hot water if you have a good laundry detergent. It is also better to clean a full load, not smaller loads.
Change your thermostat settings so they are in line with the seasonal temperature. During cold winter months, drop the thermostat a degree or two, and for the hotter summer days, raise it a bit. It is much more economical to add or remove a layer of clothes than it is to crank up the heat or air-conditioning.
You can consider getting solar water heaters to heat your water. If you live in a sunny climate, you can use a solar water heater year-round. You should still retain traditional water heaters for backup when the sun doesn't show, or if you use a lot of heated water.
A solar oven can be made to assist you in your baking needs. You can make these with boxes, old windows or old pieces of foil that can be used for reflection. These ovens reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees, while using no outside energy besides solar. You can save energy while doing your laundry in several ways. Use a dryer with a moisture sensor that shuts the dryer down when the clothes have finished drying. Use a higher speed for the spin cycle to reduce the drying time. It is also important to consistently clean your filter and prevent blockage in your vent.
When cooking in pots and pans, use tight-fitting lids. Adding a lid traps heat inside the vessel, so you can keep the burner temperature lower and save energy.
The insulation in your home can be useful in having a home that is warm and green. Houses older than three decades could use more insulation. A home that has adequate insulation will require less energy to keep it warm.
Get a greener home by making more responsible light usage a priority. Don't turn on the lights until a certain time, during the brighter months. Use dimmers to cut down on light use, and use sensors and timers to make sure that lights aren't kept on if no one is inside the room.
Put your refrigerator and freezer units in a low-temperature location in your home so that they stay cool with less energy. They should be kept out of sunlight as well as away from heating vents. Heat from any source will cause these appliances to run longer.
If you cannot use solar energy or a green energy source to power your entire house, attempt to use green energy for some of the house. You can use solar panels to heat water, for example.
Green electronics may seem expensive in the beginning; however, the amount of energy saved will pay off over the life of the equipment. Green technology may be more expensive at first, but your utility bills will be reduced. These electronics will also be beneficial to the environment in the future.
Monitor your electricity consumption watt by watt. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. All you have to do is plug the appliance directly into the device so that it can calculate how much energy is being used per hour, month, or year. You can learn how much your appliances are costing you.
Green energy can benefit anyone, whether they think global warming is real or not. Green energy not only protects the environment, but also saves money.
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