In this economy, every home owner can benefit from being frugal, and using green energy is a great way to accomplish this. Keep reading for a few great ideas on how you can convert the standard technology in your home to greener energy, enjoy greater savings in your out-of-pocket costs, and reduce your impact on the environment.
Try using energy efficient light bulbs or even LED lights in your home to cut costs for lighting. Turning off the lights when you are not in the room also helps to save energy. Keep this in mind when you are leaving home, as simply turning off the lights saves a lot of energy!
Wash clothes with cold water, as much as you can. Almost 90 percent of the consumed energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating up the water. Provided you are using the right laundry detergent, you will not see a cleanliness difference by washing in cold water. Don’t forget to wait until you have a full load of laundry to wash; that is the energy efficient way.
Swap your old incandescent light bulbs for high-efficiency LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs use far less electricity than incandescent, and they come in sizes that fit most existing fixtures. While the up-front cost is generally higher, most of these bulbs will last for years before burning out.
Don’t try to install a wind generator on a small piece of property. First of all, you’ll likely get complaints from the neighbors, as an efficient wind turbine needs to be at least 30 feet off the ground. Secondly, you need about an acre of land in order to ensure an unobstructed prevailing wind.
Always have a backup power source for a wind generation system. Your system needs to be able to account for low-wind days. This backup could be another type of renewable source, such as a battery system powered by solar, or a diesel generator. Another option is to have the home plugged into the utility power grid.
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.
A good way to save on your electric bill is to switch to a laptop computer rather than using a desktop. Making this switch can reduce your power consumption by up to 75%. This is especially true if you are an Internet addict or do heavy word processing. Plus you can take your laptop anywhere.
Don’t turn the thermostat up higher than needed in your home. If your home is cold, wear warmer clothing, like a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Turning the heat all the way up will use a lot of unneeded energy.
If possible, try to use a laptop computer, rather than a desktop. And, if the battery is full on your laptop, do not have it plugged into the charger. Desktop computers are perhaps one of the biggest energy users in your home, which is why why having a laptop is beneficial.
Buying a hybrid vehicle is a good way to save energy, but that all depends on what type of vehicle you purchase. It is always a much better choice to purchase a smaller hybrid vehicle than to purchase a large hybrid SUV. The SVUs save so little energy that it is no different than having a compact non-hybrid vehicle.
Consider replacing your wooden products with bamboo when buying new. Although bamboo is technically a grass, it has more strength than most commercial woods. Because it is fast-growing, bamboo resources are easier to replenish than slow-growing trees. Because bamboo is so renewable, the need for recycling is lessened, which saves energy.
A great tip to help save energy is to utilize daylight in your house. Rather than turning on your lights during the day, open up your shades, and let the sun naturally light up your home. You may even want to consider installing a skylight to really help illuminate your home.
Know when your appliances need to be replaced. If you have a major appliance, such as a furnace or air conditioner that is over 10 years old, you should replace them with newer, more energy-efficient models. Buying the newer, Energy Star appliances can save you a lot in the years to come.
Now you should be well prepared to set about the task of turning your home into a green energy machine! Try some of the tips featured in this article today, to start saving money and feeling better about yourself and how you are preserving the resources of the planet,as well as, keeping it cleaner!