Saturday, July 20, 2013

Green Energy Made Simple With These Great Tips!

By Merv Carlson


Green energy has been getting a lot of good press lately. Supporters of green energy claim it is superior to other forms of energy, and by using it, you can save money and save the environment. Is this right? The following advice will help you figure out for yourself if green energy is the way of the future.

Choose solar-powered lights when installing outdoor lighting in your yard. Solar-powered lamps are usually inexpensive, and they don't need any power source besides the sun. Not only does this save energy. It also means you don't need to wire your outdoor lights.

It is fairly simple to have solar panels installed to tap into solar energy to use in your home. It is important, however, that you do your homework before making the leap. What you need to know first is how much of the sun does your home generally receive? If your house is usually in the shade, solar panels will provide limited additional power.

Be a better consumer of energy, and cut your home energy usage by unplugging your electronic chargers when they are not in use. Charging devices for several common types of electronics, including laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players all draw "phantom power" if you keep them plugged in while they are idle.

Whenever possible, you should use cold water to wash your clothes. Almost 90% of energy consumption during clothes being washed is a result of the hot water usage. As long as the washing detergent you use is reliable, using cold water instead of hot water will wash your clothes just as well. Another great tip is to always fill up the washer with a full load so that you're being as efficient as possible.

Use a green and tankless model as opposed to a tank-style water heater. Tankless water heaters do require energy for operation, but since they heat water on demand, power is not wasted by keeping a full tank hot 24/7. You can purchase tankless water heaters that are small enough to heat one faucet, or large enough to heat your entire house.

If your home is heated with fuel oil, ask a technician if you can switch to biodiesel. Depending on your system, you may be able to switch to biodiesel without having to make any modifications to your system. Biodiesel fuel runs more efficiently and is cleaner for the environment, reducing your home's impact on the environment during winter months.

If you are thinking of installing a solar power system in your home, you need to calculate the amount of power the system can produce using winter sunshine hours. This will guarantee that you will have energy no matter what the weather brings, and it will result in a surplus during the summer. An even better benefit is that you can sell your energy back to the grid in the sunniest of times!

After reading the article, what are you thoughts about green energy? Most would agree that it is beneficial. Put a few of these tips to work and begin to discover some great improvements to your home, and your life. These tips will go a long way in helping the environment as well as saving you money.




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