What does it take to start using green energy in your life? All you need to have is some determination and knowledge, and this article has plenty of ideas for you to use, as long as you're ready to implement them. Continue reading to find everything you need to know to get started on the road to clean energy.
If you want to conserve energy, adjust your air conditioning unit so that it is set two degrees higher in the summer and two degrees lower in the winter. You will probably not be able to tell that you have changed it, but taking that step will save you on your monthly bill and bring down your carbon emissions.
Swap your old thermostat for a greener programmable model. You can program these thermostats to adjust the temperature at particular times during the day, so your heating and cooling system will run less while you are at work or school. These thermostats are inexpensive, and they can save you money on your electric bill while preventing unnecessary energy use.
If you are thinking about switching to solar power, do your research first. Some towns have restrictions regarding the number of collectors they allow. To bypass these limitations, think about getting your neighbors to join you and get a solar power unit that would provide power for a small group of homes.
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.
If you are thinking about switching to solar power, do your research first. Some towns have restrictions regarding the number of collectors they allow. To bypass these limitations, think about getting your neighbors to join you and get a solar power unit that would provide power for a small group of homes.
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.
If you do not need to use the lights in your home, turn them off. This includes when you are not even at home. When the lights are left on, they use a lot of energy, which is not only negative for the environment, but it is also negative on your wallet.
Don't throw away that coffee grinds- use them to fertilize your plants. Coffee grinds are rich in nitrogen so these http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html make great, healthy plant food. Using coffee grinds as fertilizer keeps them out of the landfill, makes it unnecessary for you to purchase and use chemical plant food, and make your plants grow nicely, adding oxygen to the atmosphere.
Switch all of your home's light bulbs to more energy-efficient ones. Even though they may be more pricey than normal bulbs, they will save you money in the long run, by lowering your electricity bill. They not only produce more light than other bulbs, but they also last much longer.
If you would like to save the environment, remember that it can be done in small steps as well as big ones. Simply cleaning filters in the furnace and setting temperatures lower can help! Setting your water heater to 120 F will also be an energy saver. Every little thing you can do will help.
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.
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.
Keep your home clean at all times. By constantly cleaning your home, you aren't allowing dirt to accumulate, which if left alone, you would need to use products with harsh chemicals to clean up. The less often you have to use these environmentally damaging products, the better off everyone will be.
Responsible light usage should be a top priority in your home. During months that are brighter, do not have lights on after a particular time. You can use dimmers, which reduces light usage, and you can use timers and/or sensors to make sure any unnecessary lights are turned off when someone exits the room.
Buy Energy Star products. In the typical home, appliance's make up about 20 percent of the electricity use. You can purchase products that contain the Energy Saver seal and start saving money on your electric bill and use less of the world's power sources. In order to carry the Energy Star seal, the appliance has to run efficiently.
Buy a type of home energy monitor so that you can see how much energy your home uses. This way, you can get a real-time estimate of your energy use. This can be used to predict http://www.my-led-lighting-guide.tumblr.com/post/146084691593/converting-your-parking-lot-lights-to-led/ your electric bills or to size a renewable energy system for your home. Research has shown that people who know exactly what they are using in energy will scale back their overall energy usage.
Do not do your laundry until you have enough for a full load. You will just be wasting water, and energy by doing half loads of laundry. Also, when possible try to set your washing machine to a cooler temperature setting. Let your clothes air dry, rather than putting them in the dryer.
You can reduce your monthly energy bills by air-sealing. This means sealing off openings in your home where hot and cool air can either escape or get inside the home. Places to seal include windows, doors, gaps around attic access hatches and pull-down stairs. Look for anyplace where you can find gaps that allow heat or cool air to escape!
The Earth is not a renewable resource. It provides us with what we need to survive, but we need to take care of it, to ensure that it continues to be there for us when we need it most. Use the information we've given you here, to use more green energy and help the environment in the process.
