Maybe you've watched a TV show about someone who has altered their home to use green energy, or maybe you're just concerned about the environment and want to change your own home. Whatever your motivation, this article is a great start for anyone who wants to start using green energy today.
Use curtains to assist you in keeping green. If it is summer and you want the room to stay cool, draw the curtains during the day so that the sun doesn't shine in. If it's winter, and you want the room to stay warm, open the curtains and let the sun into your room.
When building your home, pay attention to its orientation. An ideal home should be protected against overhead sun during the summer and be oriented so that it gets low-angle sun in the winter. This is a good way to save money on your heating bill and will keep your home cool in the summer.
Think about using the wind to https://medium.com/@myledlightingguide/watts-versus-lumens-versus-footcandles-ed6d1d0c7d3e#.t1g52dx2r power your home for an excellent source of green energy. You will not only be off the power grid, but the wind is an emission free source of energy that is in plentiful supply in many areas of the world. The initial cost may be high, but the savings in the long run are high as well.
A good way to begin your quest for green energy is to use alternative sources to heat your home. While wood stoves have been relied upon for countless years, the newer trend is toward pellet stoves. The pellets are composed of compressed sawdust and take up far less space than a wood-pile.
Get your whole family thinking about green energy by stocking organic, recycled or eco-friendly products whenever possible. Ask your kids to identify such products on the shelves at the store and explain why those products are better for your family, your home and your environment. You can also segue such conversations into other eco-friendly practices like shutting off the water while brushing your teeth or turning off lights when not in a room.
Go green on your coffee break by bringing your own cup. If you usually order a Tall Latte at Starbucks, bring a tall re-usable coffee mug with you. Every time you ask your favorite coffee shop to mix your drink in your http://nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/global-warming/ own cup, you are helping to green your environment.
Plant trees around your home. The trees will help provide shading for you home and therefore will help keep your home cooler in the hot summer months. It will not require as much air conditioning to keep it at your desired temperature. Since trees lose leaves in the winter, they will still allow the sun to come in and help heat your home during the winter months.
Keep your home better insulated and control warm and cool air better by installing storm windows and doors. Storm doors and windows stop drafts from letting in so much cold air. Energy efficiency improves by 45% when storm doors and windows are implemented, which are big energy savers.
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.
Making changes to an existing home is very costly. If you want to start using green energies, you should think about moving or getting a new house built. Look for certain features such as running water or good exposure to the sun and wind when buying a new property or home.
One way to use less energy in the kitchen is to use a microwave oven. Heating up your oven will use far more energy than a quick trip through the microwave. So, when you're microwaving things, remember you are saving on energy.
Replace your light bulbs with eco-friendly bulbs. These light bulbs will last longer, burn brighter and use less power. The only downside is that they are more expensive than regular light bulbs. However, you will get your money back when your energy bills start decreasing and you won't have to constantly buy new light bulbs.
Water-saving toilets are easy to find and install. Estimates show that about 50% of your home's water is used by flushing toilets. Older toilets use around five gallons of water for every flush. This is about 3 times the amount of a green toilet.
If you have a stream or creek on your property, you may want to look into using a micro hydro-power system as an energy alternative. The flow of water through a turbine will produce energy. Many times the amount of energy is not enough to fully power a home, but will offset the cost of your electric bill each month.
Think about going green in terms of energy use in small steps, especially if your home cannot accommodate the solar panels or wind turbines necessary for a major infusion of green energy. Things like laptops, cell phones, iPods and other small gadgets can easily be powered up with smaller solar cells.
If you are trying to save on your electricity bill, try to use your ceiling fan more in the summer. A ceiling fan can help to make any room feel about 10 degrees cooler, and it costs much less to run than an air conditioner does. You will be saving money and also using less electricity, meaning you're doing something great for the environment.
Thaw your food in the refrigerator to save energy. Not only will this safely thaw the food, but also the cold air than emanates from the frozen goods will help the refrigerator to stay cool, reducing overall energy consumption.
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.
Green energy is, of course, a great way to protect our natural resources, but it is also a smart way to save you hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. Use the tips laid out here in this article, and you will soon have the greenest home in your entire neighborhood.
