Having green energy at home is an excellent method of protecting the environment, while saving money. An electric car is not a must-have in order to help. Read this guide for simple ways on how to make your house energy efficient, while on any type of budget.
Be socially responsible, and unplug electric chargers for all devices that don’t need immediate charging. 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.
Check your furnace and air conditioning filters monthly. Clean or replace them as needed. Filters can also be installed in every warm-air register. This will prevent a reduction in efficiency, which occurs when the heating ducts get clogged with debris.
Install batteries very close to cells when you are putting together a solar energy system. Power can be lost in long cables so this will reduce this possibility. It will also minimize the possibility of a cable shading out the cells and lowering their generation capability.
Replace an energy-hogging water heating tank with a greener, tankless variety. 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. There are tankless heaters that can supply just one single faucet with water that is hot, but there are also models which supply the whole home.
Make use of energy-efficient products to save both money and energy. If you install double-glazing on your windows, weather-sealed doors, and other similar products, you can drastically decrease the amount of electricity needed for your home. These kinds of products can cut down dramatically on your cooling and heating costs.
Desktop computers are very power hungry. Try using a laptop as an alternative. You can reduce your energy use by three-quarters if you use the internet a lot or do a lot of word processing. Also, you can bring the laptop with you wherever you go.
Make use of a solar oven for baking needs. You can make one using supplies you may already have on-hand like old window panes, boxes, and pieces of aluminum foil. The internal temperature of these easy-to-build ovens can top 300 degrees, and they do not require any energy besides the sun’s rays.
Watch watt usage carefully. Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt are both tools that help to monitor energy consumption. You can tell how much energy it uses by plugging the appliance into it. This is helpful in showing you exactly what each appliance costs to run.
If you aspire to live a green, environmentally friendly lifestyle, there are many options for you. Going green doesn’t mean you have to spend tons of money, as you can begin simply by setting the thermostat to 60 degrees for those periods when you are not home.
You can also conduct monthly cleanings of your furnace filters. Lowering the temperature of the water heater to 120 degrees will save you money too. Every small amount helps.
Write a reminder to remain on top of goals for energy efficiency, and check each bill against last year to see if improvements were made. Simply being conscious of how much you spend on energy will save you a ton. For example, if you make a conscious effort to cut down on your water or electricity usage, then you are more likely to make a habit out of shutting off unused lights or appliances.
There are many ways to lower your energy bills and be more environmentally friendly. Use the tips here, both small and large, and you are on your way to becoming “green.” Set an example to your family members, and they will see how simple it is to be green. Remember to start implementing these tips today.