People are often overwhelmed by the thought of all they’d have to do to have a greener home. It’s hard to know just where to start and which methods of green energy will work best in your home and for the environment. Read this article for some tips on improving the energy use in your home.
If you are charging products within your home, use smart green ideas to conserve energy by unplugging these devices when you are done. Even when they are fully charged, these units still consume energy and cost you money. So unplug them when they are finished, and save some energy and money.
Hot water can be obtained in a low cost, environmentally friendly manner through solar energy. Purchase a solar water heating system. Indirect or direct circulation systems are both available. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.
Insulate your home. A pre-1950 home that isn’t insulated will use approximately 60 percent more energy than a house that was built after 2000. Adding sufficient insulation to your attic and basement will greatly improve your home’s energy efficiency. As well as keeping you warm in the winter, you will find that the home remains much cooler in the summer months, reducing the need for an air conditioner.
When installing solar panels, ensure that the energy-storing batteries are installed as close to the cells as possible. This helps prevent power loss in the cables. This also prevents long cables from casting shadows over the PV cells.
Save energy, and your hard-earned dollars, by only using your washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load. A small load uses just as much energy as a full load and accomplishes a lot less for the energy expenditure. Let laundry stack up another day or two in order to maximize savings and efficiency. Also consider drying clothes outdoors on a clothesline if allowed in your area. The fresh outdoorsy scent can’t be beat, and you will show a significant savings in your utility bill if you cut back on your dryer usage.
In some areas of the world people can sign up for wind and geothermal energy from their power supplier. This is usually a little more money, but it is green energy that you are buying and do not have to invest in the machinery to make it. This helps relive the stress for fossil fuels by your energy company.
Appliances can be a big, unnecessary energy drain. Find out how much energy each of your appliances are using. Work to replace those larger appliances that are inefficient and outdated, and unplug the smaller ones – like computers and television sets – when they are not in use. Setting all appliances on a timer switch is another way to ensure that you don’t waste energy.
Every home has a different layout and is in different areas. With all of the different variables, green energy technology will vary significantly for each area. There are some that will work for every home, and others that will not. When you see tips that fit your current scenario, make use of them wisely.