You may have heard about green energy, but you are not quite sure what it all means. If you want to learn more, read this article for some tips. Keep reading to learn some of the best ways that green-energy can help your home.
If you are thinking of designing your outdoor areas with lighting, consider using solar lamps instead of conventional power. These lamps are inexpensive and do not require any kind of power source other than exposure to the sun. This not only saves energy. You will not have to hook up the lights to an electrical source.
The government has made grants for investing in renewable energy available to the public. Talk to your local government and figure out what programs are in the area. You may qualify for free wind or solar installation, or you may find that you can deduct some of your expenses on your taxes.
Be sure to cover your windows with drapes or blinds when not at home. This cools your home’s interior and keeps energy usage down while you’re away. South facing windows will receive the most sun, and therefore heat. Thermally insulated black-out curtains are the best option, but blinds and shades can also work.
Turn you appliances off when you are not using them. Turn off lights, televisions and computers if you leave a room and have no plans to return. A power strip is an easy way to turn off multiple appliances at once, so consider placing one in a conspicuous place where many electronics are located.
When you plan a solar system for your home, try calculating what the energy generation of your system will be when you use hours worth of sun in the winter. You will have more than enough energy during the summer months, while avoiding falling short during the winter. If you’re using a net-usage plan, in the summer you’ll get cash back from your utility provider.
If you’re installing a solar energy system, be sure to place the batteries in close proximity to the cells. No power will be lost during the transfer from the cells to the batteries by doing this. It also prevents the cable covering the cells, which would reduce their generation capability.
Do some research and learn about passive and active solar powers. While active power requires storage cells, passive power doesn’t. Active systems are what you would normally think of when you think of solar–PV cells, mechanical parts, and storage devices. Passive power uses the sun for thermal energy in the home.
Don’t turn the thermostat up higher than needed in your home. If you’re cold, put on a warm sweatshirt and some cozy socks. Having the heat up high wastes a lot of energy.
Monitor how many watts you’re using. Try using gadgets like the Kill-A-Watt and the Watt Minder to see what in your home uses too much energy. Plug your appliance or gadget into the watt-checking device, and it will tell you how much the unit consumes in energy in one hour, month or year. This way, you will know how much that appliance costs you, and you can adjust your usage or settings accordingly.
Replace old, energy-hogging appliances with new versions that are Energy Star rated. Appliances that have an Energy Star rating states that the particular appliance being used is made to consume less energy compared to its predecessor that is not rated. The rating promises refrigerators and freezers will use 20 percent less energy, 40 percent less for dishwashers and 50 percent less energy for washing machines.
Now that you have seen what green energy is all about, you are ready to start using it in your own home. Use the information in the preceding article to make green technology a part of your life. The environment will thank you, and so will your wallet.