Reconfiguring your home to use less energy is easier than it has ever been before. With a few simple changes you can save money and https://www.evernote.com/pub/myledlightingguide/myledlightingguide#st=p&n=8fa68fdd-aa2a-4a30-b0d4-89c0115a5468 reduce your impact on the world. The article below is here to help you get started.
Solar powered outdoor lighting is a wonderful enhancement to your outdoor living areas. They don’t use any energy other than solar energy and they are cost effective. You save a lot of energy in the process. As an added benefit, you are spared the trouble of running an outdoor wiring system.
Check what other energy sources are available in your neighborhood. Compare costs, and keep in mind that new legislation exists which will sometimes reward you for using renewable energy sources. You may find that switching to one or another may provide a reduction in energy use and cost.
Cover your windows if you’re not going to be home. This cools the house and cuts energy costs. Usually, windows that face south receive the most sunlight. Therefore, it is especially important to use heavy window coverings on these windows.
Pay attention to the thermostat in your home. Installing a programmable thermostat makes it easier for you to track the temperature in your house, and turn the heat down when you aren’t at home. Between 1 and 3 percent of your energy costs can be cut for each degree you turn it down!
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Reverse the direction of the blades on your fan if you’d like to cut heating costs by as much as 10 percent! Although most people use fans for cooling, it’s possible to use them to suck cold air up and make your home feel much warmer without turning up the heat.
In a colder climate, make sure you weatherize your windows to be energy efficient. This will not only help you stay much warmer, but it will save you on energy costs. You can have this done for a fee, or you can do it yourself after purchasing the necessary products.
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.
As a way to live greener, purchase power strips for your home. In areas where you have multiple electronics, you can utilize these power strips as a central hub where you may shut off all power to these electronic devices when they are not in use. As an example, if you have a home office, by plugging in your computer, printer, wireless router, and desk lamp into a power strip, you can turn them all off with the flip of a single switch when you are finished with your day’s work.
Are you currently using a wood-burning fireplace to decrease your dependence upon fossil fuels? If so, remember to shut the flue damper very tightly when your fireplace is not being used. If you forget to do this, both warmed or cooled air will easily escape from your house through the chimney.
Installing storm windows can go a long way in helping you save on energy costs. There are both interior and exterior options to choose from. Installing storm windows is said to save you anywhere from twenty-five to fifty percent of heat loss. Make sure to add weather-stripping at movable joints of the storm windows.
Before you start shopping for a wind power system, know how much power your home consumes. In order to get the most out of a residential wind power system, it needs to be the proper size. If your property is hooked into a utility grid, your wind system should be sized to provide about 50 – 80% of your power needs.
Upgrade your home’s electronics and appliances to save yourself some cash in the future. While they are usually going to be more expensive, green technology products greatly reduce energy usage and, thereby, save money. It can also have a beneficial impact on the environment in the long term.
Get some green plants in your home and your garden. Green plants transform carbon dioxide into oxygen: keeping plants in your home is a good way to balance the harmful emanations from your heating system. It is also a good alternative to opening up windows and losing heat to change the air in your home.
Use the weight of your car to save gas while you are driving. You can increase the miles per gallon of your car by reducing the use of your gas pedal and also your brake. Stop accelerating at least one eighth of a mile before each stop and cut down on fuel usage.
From geothermal power to biomass power, green energy is good for our planet. Now that you’ve read this article, you can start taking the steps towards using more green energy in your life. You may be just one person, but a little green energy can go a very long way.