Homeowners can be confused and overwhelmed when thinking of making their home green. Find out where you should begin and compare your different options before investing in anything. Take time to read the following guidelines to determine the things that could greatly benefit your house.
Do you live on a farm? If you own a farm, consider installing an energy turbine on your property, or renting land to a utility company for that purpose. You will reap the benefits of this energy and the space needed is minimal.
Instead of using fuel oil to heat your home, try to make a switch to biodiesel. Depending on your system, you may be able to switch to biodiesel without having to make any modifications to your system. Biodiesel runs more efficiently, burns more clean, and costs you less during the winter.
Use solar energy to provide hot water cheaply. Buy a hot-water system that is solar-powered. Your options include direct circulation systems and indirect ones. The indirect option is probably your best bet since you will not have to think about frozen pipers during the winter.
When planning a home solar system, calculate the potential energy generation of the system using hours of sunshine in the winter. You will avoid unpleasant surprises during winter, and you will also ensure your energy needs are met in summer. If you are on a net usage plan, during the summer, you'll receive money back from the utility company for the energy you generate!
One of the best ways to go green and cut energy costs is by dressing more warmly. By simply putting on a sweater, you can improve your heated temperature by between 2 to 4 degrees. You do not have to wear a small amount of clothing at home, so put on a sweater and increase your savings.
Keep up-to-date with tax rebates for making your home more energy-efficient. In a few cases, local utility companies tend to offer rebates for expenses associated to upgrades. In other instances, credit or tax deductions are offered by federal or state governments. All of these rebates will add up, potentially covering the cost of your renovation!
Try to resort to your microwave whenever possible. Any time you use the oven or stove, you're using a lot of energy. If popping items in the microwave can save some energy and time, it is a viable option.
An often-repeated, yet useful tip for anyone who wants to start saving energy today, is to flip off the light when they leave the room. Developing this habit can save you a surprising amount of energy over the long term. You will also save on your electric bill.
Try a water-saving commode in your bathroom. Toilets account for fifty percent of the water used in a home. Five gallons is the typical amount used by older models, while low-flow toilets consume about 1.6 gallons per flush.
Homes greatly vary in layout and geographical area. Because of these differences, not every home is well-suited for all types of green technology. Many are conducive to all homes, but others will be based on specific needs. Choose the tips that are right for your particular situation, and implement them when you can.
