Something that several people don't realize about green energy is that it saves money on electricity for your home! While there are numerous benefits for the environment, going green is a great way to cut costs and even, get tax breaks! Read this article for tips on making green energy affordable.
If your home has a pool or hot tub, look into a solar water heating system. Installing a solar water heating system costs about the same as a conventional system, but operating costs for the system will be much lower. Repair costs for solar heating systems are often lower as well.
If you have a swimming pool, you can save a lot of money by using solar energy to heat the water. Solar heating systems are not more expensive than other solutions and are easier to maintain. These systems also work for your outdoor hot tub. This is probably the best use of solar power.
Try heating your home with a wood pellet stove. The pellets burned in a pellet stove are made of highly compact sawdust. They burn so cleanly than they are not required to get an EPA certification for emissions. Be aware, however, that the cost of the pellets may be high in some areas.
Remember that solar panels, whether you install them on your roof or anywhere else on your property, must be angled toward the sun to receive maximum exposure. In the Northern Hemisphere, this means facing them south with an angle of latitude plus fifteen degrees. Otherwise, your investment will not return as much energy as you hope.
Make use of fans inside the home. You can easily use floor fans or have a ceiling http://hibavideo.com/?written-by-malachi-duke-learn-the-right-way-to-market-your-lighting-consulting-operation-with-these-tips.html fan installed to increase airflow inside the home. You can use these even if you already have an air conditioner because you can turn the thermostat higher and just use the fans for air movement.
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.
Check out the Green Power Network website to find out if there is a green power alternative available in your area. Consider switching to green power if there is a good service available in your area and if you can afford to. You might be able to get a tax rebate in some states.
Instead of using a desktop computer, which sucks up more electricity, buy a laptop. Making this switch can reduce your power consumption by up to 75%. This is especially true if you are an Internet addict or do heavy word processing. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!
One very basic method of using renewable green energy in your home is the use of solar power to dry your clothes. That is, hang your wet laundry out on a clothesline. The amount of energy saved by not using a dryer is considerable, and it also gets you outside in the nice weather.
Power strips are a great way not only to protect your expensive appliances but also to easily lower your energy usage. Instead of having to switch off or unplug every individual appliance when they are not in use, you can simply switch off all power strips at night or when you leave your home.
Develop the habit of shutting off your computer before you leave your home for several hours and before you go to sleep each day to make your home a greener one. Also, set your computer's sleep mode to activate when it is idle for five minutes. If you faithfully practice these two simple acts on a daily basis, you can decrease the energy usage of your computer by 85%.
Switching out your boiler for a newer, more efficient model can be a great way to save energy. Boilers that are more than a few years old were not made to conserve energy, while many modern boilers are quite efficient. Newer boilers help by producing less carbon dioxide as well as cut down the cost of your energy bill.
Clean your air filters monthly to see if they either require cleaning or if they need replaced. This can help your unit run more efficiently. You can also purchase a permanent filter that you can wash and re-use. These can save you a lot later and can prevent more waste in the landfills.
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.
Look for and use built-in power settings on your computer, laptop and other electronics to reduce their power consumption. Try dimming the screen in dark rooms or trimming resource usage for undemanding tasks. These steps can minimize the amount of electricity your devices need to operate, which conserves energy and lowers your utility bills.
A great way to help save energy when using a dishwasher is to avoid using the dry cycle. The heat generated during this cycle uses lots of energy and can be completely avoided if you just leave your dishwasher open and letting them dry naturally in the open air.
Self generating clothes washing machines are a great way to go green. They only require enough electricity to get going, but once they are moving, they generate enough electricity to complete the load. They also only use the amount of water necessary to wash the exact amount of clothes in the washer for that load.
So as you can see, it really is not that hard to make changes in your life that will help you take advantage of green energy. So, take that first step and see what even a small change can make. In return, you will be sure to make the world a better place for all.
