Every day, many people waste tons of energy, while using many things in their home. Whether it's through simple appliances or water usage, people waste energy at home, rather than using green energy. Here is a bit of advice that will help you make use of green energy in your own home.
While it makes sense to change from traditional light bulbs to energy-saving light bulbs you should wait until your old ones are all burned out. It is not a good idea to throw away perfectly good bulbs in order to make the switch since that would be a way to waste energy as well.
Air dry your laundry. If the weather allows you to, after you wash your laundry, instead of running it through the dryer, dry it on a clothesline outside. Let the sun and wind dry your clothes for you. Using an electric dryer will only use up energy, and if the weather is nice, you can save energy easily. In addition, your clothes will last longer.
Think outside of the box. While many people think 'solar' panels when they think of green energy, there are other ways to take advantage of the sun. If you are building a new home, consider incorporating passive solar design into the home. By building with materials such as concrete or adobe and taking advantage of the sun's natural heat with south-facing windows, you can create a home that will naturally heat itself in the winter and stay cool in the summer.
Set your computer so that it goes to sleep when you are not using it for more than 10-15 minutes at any given time. While most people believe that screensavers save energy they do not, and should not be used as an alternative to placing your computer in a sleeping state.
Find out more about ground source heat pumps. These pumps are located under your home and pump the natural heat of the earth to keep you warm. This system can be costly but the pumps use very little power and can last up to fifty years. Invest in this system if you are going to stay in a home for decades.
Try switching to CFLs. The compact fluorescent bulbs tend to use about 75 percent less energy than the traditional incandescent bulbs do, plus they last around 10 times longer. They are pricier than the traditional bulbs, but it takes only a few months to make up for it in energy savings.
Heat your home with a pellet stove. Pellets are basically made of compressed sawdust: they burn without any emanation and are much easier to store and transport than a pile of wood. Before investing in a pellet stove, you should find a place where you can get affordable pellets first.
Buy a programmable thermostat. An Energy Star programmable thermostat will regulate your home's temperature year-round, both day and night. Always set your thermostat a couple of degrees less than you think the temperature should be, as you won't really notice the difference in your home. An Energy Star thermostat will save you about $180 a year in heating costs.
In order to ensure your air filter is working correctly, you should regularly clean or replace it one time a month. If air filters are not working properly, you will end up using more energy to compensate. Cleaning and replacing it can help to eliminate this problem so that you can save energy and money.
Get a greener home by making more responsible light usage a priority. Don't turn on the lights until a certain time, during the brighter educational lighting under kitchen months. You can also install dimmer switches, timers and sensors to help with energy savings.
Try using programmable thermostats to http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html save energy inside your home. These let you adjust the times when you can turn on your heater or air-conditioning according to the schedule you set up. As a result, you're not operating anything as much when you're not home, or when you're asleep.
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.
Spending the extra money on buying green electronics and appliances pays off in the long run. Green tech products are a bit more pricey than conventional products, but you will save money long term through greater energy efficiency and lower utility bills. It also has the long-term benefit of saving the planet.
Green energy is great to have in any home and can save you a lot on electrical bills that can seem to add up over months. Another great thing about investing into green technology is that you can use it as a tax write off which can help you get more back come tax season.
A simple and easy way to reduce your energy consumption and make your house greener is to thoroughly clean the lint filter in your dryer each time before you use it. Believe it or not, by doing this easy and simple act, you can slash your dryer's usage of electricity by as much as 30%!
Some forms of insulation do not require professional services but rather can simply be pushed into an open area. These types of insulation are an ideal way to improve the energy efficiency of everything from your attic to your crawl spaces to your basement and the spaces between floors. This type of insulation can also be inserted whenever you repair drywall.
Use less energy for cooking your meals by baking several items together. You can bake cakes, bread and pies once each week and avoid heating your oven very often. Making larger batches of food on top of the stove also helps. You can make large pots of soups and stews, and freeze some for microwaving later.
Install solar panels on your roof for a greener, more environmentally friendly home. Solar panels are a large investment, but the savings you will enjoy by using solar energy will make up for the extra expenditure. Once solar panels are in place the energy is free, and you might have the chance to sell some of the power to your electric company.
Everyone can enjoy the benefits of going green. Green energy not only protects the environment, but also saves money.
