Going green is beneficial for the private home, while benefiting the environment at large too. Changing just a few things in the way your home runs can make it use energy more efficiently and cut your monthly electric bill. Read this for quick green energy tips you can implement at home.
One of the simplest ways to help save the environment is to use less energy. Unplug alliances when they are not being used. Turn off the TV and lights when they aren't in use. This is an easy way to save cash as well.
Be socially responsible, and unplug electric chargers for all devices that don't need immediate charging. Chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cell phones and other devices use power when they're plugged in. This happens regardless of whether you're using the device or not.
Keep covers on your windows when not in your home. This allows your home to be kept cool when you aren't there, and in addition, it helps keep energy costs down. Pay particular attention to covering the windows on the south side of your house. They typically admit the most sun. Use dark curtains, roman shades, roller shades or other coverings on all windows.
Only run your dishwasher when it is completely full. Do not simply place a few dishes into it and run it. Your dishwasher can probably hold a lot more dishes than you think. Make sure you take time to place the dishes in properly so as to maximize the space available.
When you are not using something, turn it off. For example, if you are not in a certain room, turn off the lights, TV or computer. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.
If you would like to reduce the cost of your hot water, use solar energy. Consider investing in a hot-water system that runs off of solar energy. You can select from direct circulation systems or indirect varieties. Indirect systems are the best if you have frozen pipes during the winter.
The flow of air in a home is better controlled when you have stormed windows and doors installed. Storm windows and doors prevent cold air drafts filtering into openings. Sometimes electric savings can be up to 45 percent on homes that have storm windows as opposed to single pane windows.
Replace an energy-hogging water heating tank with a greener, tankless variety. Although tankless heaters require electricity or gas to heat water, they only do this on the amount you need as opposed to storing it in a large tank that is kept hot all the time. 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.
See exactly how many watts of power you are using. Use gadgets such as Kill-A-Watt or Watt Minder and figure out what your consumption is and where it is coming from. All you have to do is plug the appliance directly into the device so that it can calculate how much energy is being used per hour, month, or year. This will show you the cost of your appliance.
If you are one of the many people who desire to live a greener life when it comes to saving our planet's energy, there is much you can do. Going green doesn't mean you have to spend tons of money, as you can begin simply by setting the thermostat to 60 degrees for those periods when you are not home.
You can also conduct monthly cleanings of your furnace filters. Lowering the temperature of your water heater can save energy as well. The little things add up.
As you can see, it really can be quite simple and inexpensive to go green. Sometimes, small changes to the home can pay off handsomely. When attempting to go green, recall the tips in the article above and share them with others to increase the impact on the environment.
