Harness The Power Of Green In Your Home

Going green does not mean going broke or having no time for anything else. By making some simple changes, you can cut your utility costs and help the environment. Read the article below to find out some of the best ways to get the most out of green energy.

Simply lessening the amount of daily energy consumption can save lots of energy. Unplug appliances when they’re not in use. Lights and televisions should be off when not in use. This little tip will save you money in the long run.

You can get a grant from the government to help you invest into some renewable energy. Do some research with your local authorities and ascertain if they run any types of programs within your district. You may qualify for wind or solar installation with little cost, or possibly you may be able to use it as deduction on your taxes.

Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. They may not be currently in use, but items such as cell phone chargers, laptops and mp3 players draw energy when left plugged in.

Don’t keep things turned on all the time. When exiting rooms, turn off the computer, television or lights. A power strip should be used for electronics and can be easily turned off when not needed, since the standby mode is still utilizing power.

Solar energy can heat water for a lesser cost. Purchase a solar water heating system. You can choose from a direct circulation system or an indirect one. If you have concerns about your pipes freezing when it is cold, you should pick an indirect one.

If you want to save energy on heating and cooling costs, install storm windows and doors. Storm doors and windows will reduce the entrance of drafts and cold air. When homes have windows and doors that are stormed, 45 percent less energy is used, which can decrease electric bills.

Hire experts to check your plumbing and heating systems before investing a lot of money in installing new, greener systems. They will let you know how much you can save by upgrading to more efficient appliances and systems, and also give you a good idea of how much it will cost.

Check and manage your watt usage. 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 need to do is plug the item in question into the device to find out how much energy it uses in an hour. This way, you will know how much that appliance costs you, and you can adjust your usage or settings accordingly.

Energy Star

Replace aging major appliances with ENERGY STAR appliances. To receive an Energy Star rating from the government, appliances must meet minimum efficiency standards, unlike the non-rated appliances you may currently own. 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 good green energy tip while cooking at home is to use a microwave whenever you can. When cooking, stoves and ovens often use lots of energy, usually more than is needed. If it is possible to microwave the item you are considering cooking, do so to reduce your energy consumption.

Even though some people don’t believe global energy is anything to worry about, everyone can benefit from the use of green energy in their home. Using some of the ideas above, you can make changes one at a time can save money yearly on your electric bill.