Green Energy Tips That Are Easy To Understand
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Filed under Green Energy
Having green energy at home is an excellent method of protecting the environment, while saving money. You don’t need to spend a fortune to do this, so there is no need for an electric car. Read the article below for easy tips to live a green, energy-efficient lifestyle regardless of your budget.
If you are considering purchasing outdoor lighting look into solar lamps. These lamps aren’t costly and do not need additional power sources other than direct sun exposure. This will end up saving you a lot of energy. It will also save you money by not having to wire the outdoor lights to your home.
Wash Clothes
Wash clothes with cold water, as much as you can. Almost 90% of the power you use to do laundry is simply used to heat the water. Good detergents wash clothes even in cold water. Furthermore, remember to always wash a full load, as this is more energy efficient.
Trade out your older, tank-style water heater for a tankless model that is more green. While tankless heaters still require gas or electricity to heat your water, they only heat the amount of water you need, rather than keeping a large tank hot around the clock. Tankless heaters can be acquired in models that could give the whole house or even just a single water faucet with water that is hot.
Use a laptop computer instead of a desktop, which uses more energy. You will find yourself shaving 75 percent off of the amount of electricity used for computer usage, especially if you go on the internet often. Because laptops are portable, you can also enjoy the convenience of taking your computer anywhere.
Watch your watt usage. Try using gadgets like the Kill-A-Watt and the Watt Minder to see what in your home uses too much energy. All you need to do is plug the item in question into the device to find out how much energy it uses in an hour. You’ll be able to calculate how much each appliance costs you in electricity and replace those which are power hogs.
If you are trying to achieve a greener lifestyle, there are many options for you. Start with the simplest methods, such as setting your heating thermostat to 60 degrees while you are away from home, and cleaning your furnace filters every few months. Setting your water heater’s temperature to a maximum 120 degrees will also save money. Little things like this add up!
Switch out an old boiler. Old boiler units were not designed with energy conservation in mind, yet new boilers are typically more efficient. They are healthier, as they emit less carbon dioxide, and you will reduce your energy bill as well.
Energy Star Ratings
Replace your old appliances with new ones featuring high Energy Star ratings. ENERGY STAR ratings mean that the appliance has met standards of the EPA and is especially crafted to use less energy than older models. The amount of energy saved depends on the type of appliance. Refrigerators and freezers use 20% less energy, while dishwashers use 40% less. Washing machines use half as much energy as their non-rated counterparts.
A microwave is a more energy efficient appliance than a stove, so consider using it more often. Cooking food using the stove or the oven consumes a large amount of power. Microwaves have a bed reputation because they tend to produce lackluster food and emit radiation, but the fact of the matter is that making use of them can greatly reduce your energy costs.
You can save energy by changing your furnace filter, getting a thermostat that is programmable and using light bulbs that are energy efficient. Show your family how to go green, so that everyone will know how simple going green is. Keep the tips that were presented to you in mind and put them to use right away.