When you do the right thing and convert your home into an environmentally friendly environment, you help cut the cost of your energy bills. You do not have to purchase a car that is electric in order to make this work! Keep reading to find out how to make your household more energy efficient, no matter your budget.
Cutting back on your daily electricity usage is a simple way to conserve energy. When not using a certain appliance, unplug it from the outlet. Turn off lights, television sets and other small appliances when you are done using them. This may be a simple tip, but it does save you money.
Solar panels that collect solar energy to be used are easy to have installed at your home. It is important, however, that you do your homework before making the leap. The number one to think about is the amount of sun your home gets. If you live in a shady place, or a location with a cloudy climate, solar isn’t the choice for you.
Provide Energy
Do you or your family own a farm? You could rent a small portion of your property to an energy company willing to install a wind turbine. This installation will provide energy while taking little space and it will provide energy to you and perhaps your neighbors.
Use cold water in your washing machine. Almost 90 percent of energy consumed by washing machines is used when heating the water. Washing clothes in cold water can be just as effective as a warm cycle, especially with today’s cold water detergents. It is also better to clean a full load, not smaller loads.
If you aren’t home, use a window covering. This keeps your home cooler naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner and saving energy. Usually, the windows facing the south get more sun because of where they are in the house. Think about covering all of your windows with different types of shades and curtains.
Research different types of energy sources which may be available in your area. Check to see how much it would cost to run your home with these other utilities, and remember to take into account the government bonuses that are sometimes available. You may choose, for example, to go from electric to natural gas for heating, or using a well instead of city water.
When not using things, turn them off. Upon leaving a room, turn off such things as the lights, computer, television or entertainment center. Power strips are handy, because you can turn a number of devices off with the flip of one switch.
If you have a dishwasher make sure you only run it when it is full. Dishwashers do not allow for minimizing water or power consumption. It is the same, full or not. When you run a dishwasher, use the ‘energy-saver’ setting so dishes can air-dry.
Get rid of your old water heater and put in a green, tankless one. Although they still use gas or electricity, they only heat on demand rather than maintaining an entire tank of hot water at all times. There are various options when it comes to tankless water heaters, from heating enough water for your entire home to ones that only serve one faucet.
Avoid cranking the heat in your home unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you feel a small chill, instead of turning up the heat, put on a sweatshirt or sweatpants. This saves you from using energy that would be required to sustain heat at that high level.
Investigate options for heating your oven through solar energy. You can make one with easy-to-find items like old windows, boxes, and aluminum foil to reflect light. They don’t use any outside energy and can get up to 300 degrees.
Energy Usage
Leave yourself reminder notes to decrease energy usage, and frequently compare past bills with current ones to see if you’re making strides. Just thinking more about your energy usage will help you to change habits that lead you to over-use energy. For instance, if you make an effort to lower your electricity or water usage, it’s more likely that you will also try to use appliances and lights less often.
Use the microwave instead if you’d like to save energy. Ovens and stoves use lots more energy to prepare food than microwaves. If you can cook things in the microwave instead, do it! This will help save a lot of energy.
It may be common sense, but most people do not turn off machines, lights, and other equipment when not in use. This simple action can save anyone a lot of money on monthly bills. Think about your actions and turn off things you are not using.
Your electric company can assist you in making your home energy-efficient. Most gas and electric companies offer web-based tools to help you monitor your consumption, and they also provide suggestions for reducing your energy usage and utility bills. Look into programs that include discounts or rebates for purchasing more efficient appliances, light bulbs, thermostats or other products.
Now that you have read this article you surely can see how easy it is to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Set the example for those around you, and you will see that they quickly follow suit once they see how simple it is to be green. Keep these tips in mind and use them often.