How To Use Green Energy To Heat Your Home
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Filed under Green Energy
You will probably be surprised at the range of options available to make your home greener. This article provides you with the information needed to make your own home more green.
Use a solar water heater to keep your pools, tubs and plumbing full of piping hot, but cheap, water. Using gas or electricity to heat water isn’t efficient. However, solar water heaters use the sun to make water comfortable and reduce energy consumption. Many of these improvements will cost you a bit up front, but the cost savings and tax deductions will usually more than offset that cost.
Cut down on air conditioning by wearing natural fibers in the summer. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw the moisture further from your skin and let it stay cooler. Wear lighter colors, as warmer colors make you feel warmer and more likely to put on artificial cold air.
It is important to clean your furnace filter on a regular basis to be sure you are using as little energy as possible heating your home. Also, put filters on vents that dispense warm air. Debris (and small toys) will not reach the heating ducts to clog the main filter.
Solar Heaters
Think about getting solar heaters to heat up your water at home. If freezing temperatures are never a concern in your area, consider a system that circulates water through solar heaters before sending it into your house. Having a conventional heater as a back up if you expect a surge in hot water use can be wise.
Research different sources of green energy available to your community. Compare costs, and keep in mind that new legislation exists which will sometimes reward you for using renewable energy sources. You may find that natural gas will be better for your home than electric, or that well water is an available alternative to city water.
Don’t run the dishwasher unless it’s full in order to save energy and money. A lot of energy is wasted when only a few dishes are washed at a time. You may be quite surprised at the number of dishes your dishwasher can handle in one load. Align each dish carefully so that your dishwasher racks can accommodate the largest number of dishes.
Solar power can heat water for a low cost. There are many solar hot-water appliances to get the job done. You could choose of having an indirect or direct circulation system. Indirect systems are the best if you have frozen pipes during the winter.
Dressing in warm attire can be a great way to cut energy costs while embracing green energy. A light sweater offers 2 degrees of more warmth, and a heavy sweater adds 4 degrees. You don’t have to wear a t-shirt and shorts in your home, so dress warmly and save money!
Look for federal and local rebates that apply to renewable energy at home. Sometimes your utility company may offer additional rebates which will help pay for the expense of the systems. Also look into tax deductions offered by the government that may apply to your green energy technology. Credits and rebates will make it easier to afford green technology.
Try not to turn the heat up too high in your home, unless it is absolutely necessary for you to do so. If you’re cold, put on a warm sweatshirt and some cozy socks. Turning the heat all the way up will use a lot of unneeded energy.
There is no reason you shouldn’t be able to use the tips from this article since they are so easy to do. Taking a little time now to switch to green energy will pay off big-time in the future, for both your family and your planet.