As the world's population gets bigger, it becomes more important to minimize pollution. One way to do that is through the use of green energy. Green energy minimizes pollution and only has a minor impact on the environment. But what can you do to go green? Keep reading this article to find out.
If you're designing any kind of outdoor lighting, you may want to think about installing solar-powered lamps. This type of lamp is cost-effective and needs no power other than sunlight. This saves a lot of energy! It will also mean you can avoid installing underground wiring.
Turn off the kitchen, bathroom, and any other exhaust fans as soon as you no longer need them. Some people leave the fans on for 20 minutes or so, but it is better to leave them on for no longer than five minutes after showering, bathing, or cooking is finished.
If your exhaust fans are more than five years old, consider replacing them with newer more efficient models. Each year you should examine each exhaust fan in your home for damage and replace the filter. A damaged exhaust fan uses more energy and changing the filter allows the fan to work more efficiently.
You do not have to spend a lot to be a green energy consumer. You can just change your habits and be green. You can certainly save big by driving the speed limit and not over use your gas pedal. You can save as much as 20 percent on gas if you just follow those two rules.
Install timers, motion sensors, or sound sensors on lamps, lights and other electrical devices to automate their functions. Such sensors are ideal if you have a hard time remembering to turn off the lights, and because they conserve energy, they can save you a significant amount of your power bill.
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.
Use solar hot water. By installing a solar hot water system, you can use solar power to heat the water you use for everything in your home. It will work for your showers, washing dishes and doing laundry. If you are worried about not getting enough sun, you can invest in a small, traditional water heater as well.
One of the cheapest and easiest ways to make your home more energy efficient is by replacing all of your standard light bulbs with green versions. Not only do such bulbs reduce your energy bill through lower wattage and higher efficiency, but these bulbs are also made to last longer, giving you a two-fold return for your investment.
When thinking about home solar systems, think about how much energy will be produced during winter. As winter sunlight is much lower than summer, you will want to be able to plan for higher energy costs in winter. You may even get rebates from your utility company in summer months if you sign up for net usage and use solar panels.
Buy a solar water heater for your home. Water heaters consume a massive amount of electricity every day, even when not in use. By purchasing a water heater that harnesses energy from the sun you will see an instant reduction in your power bill. Make certain that it is well insulated.
You may think you are saving money by unplugging your laptop from the power cord when it is charged. Only problem is, if the AC adapter is still plugged into the outlet, it is still continuously drawing out energy. Make sure you plug the AC adaptor and other devices into an energy efficient power strip to keep this from happening.
In order to save energy in your home, you may want to think about insulating your loft, attic, and/or roof. Since heat rises, it is important that they are insulated so you do not always need to use the air conditioner on your home. This is usually so simple that you can do it yourself.
An easy to get started in energy efficiency is to ask your electric company for help. A lot of utility companies, on their websites, provide tools to assist you in seeing what energy you use, in some cases down to an hour; they also offer ways to reduce costs and consumption. Also look into any rebate programs which can help offset the cost of purchasing energy-efficient appliances.
If your dishwasher was made before 1994, replace it with a new, high-efficiency model to save both electricity and water. Modern dishwashers use fewer gallons per load than older units, and they come with a wider variety of settings that allow you to customize your energy usage based on the size of the load.
Green energy is not a priority everywhere. If you feel like you are not getting the help you need to set up your alternative energy solution, find out more about regulations and incentives in other towns or states. Moving to a nearby town or relocating in a different state might be a good idea.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer set to the optimum temperatures. These appliances are two of the biggest energy wasters in the modern home. Be sure the temperature in your refrigerator is set between 38-42 degrees (F) and in your freezer to -5 degrees (F). Anything lower and you are burning energy unnecessarily.
Many people forget to turn off machines and lights that they aren't using, even though it seems obvious. Just by simply being aware of things that are on, and making an effort to turn things off when not in use, you can substantially save on your energy bills. By thinking about the costs involved and how much extra energy you use, should get you to shut off those appliances and lights when not in use.
Don't drink bottled water. Bottled water is often just repackaged tap water, and the process of bottling the water and transporting it to the store is very wasteful. If you don't trust tap water in the community, buy a reusable bottle http://my-led-lighting-guide.tumblr.com/post/146182545903/led-retrofit-kits-mini-series/ with a filter.
Now that you know what it takes to use green energy in your own home, forget all of the excuses you were using before. Take this article and put the information from it to use. You'll find that there are so many benefits, from saving money on bills to making money on extra energy, well within your reach!
