Using Green Energy To Help Your Everyday Life
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Filed under Green Energy
Taking care of the planet is very important, and why we need to use these green energy sources when possible. From wind power to solar energy, there are lots of different ways to get environmentally friendly energy. How do you use green energy in your own life? Keep reading to find out.
Solar panels are easy to install. But before you do this, there are a few things you must take into account. The biggest thing to consider is how much sun does your house get on average? If your home is mostly in the shade, or if you live in a location that receives little sun, your power gain may be minimal.
Save on the use of electricity in your home, and become a better consumer of energy by unplugging your electronic devices and gadgets when they are not in use. Cell phone and mp3 chargers draw energy even if they aren’t charging anything.
If you use a dishwasher to clean your dishes, do not run it until it is completely full. You will use just as much water and energy to run a half-empty dishwasher as a full one. When running the dishwasher, turn on the setting for energy conservation.
Solar Energy
A solar energy array can be the cheapest way to getting your hot water. You can purchase a hot-water system that is run by solar energy. Two types are available, direct and indirect. Indirect is best if you have cold winters and worry about pipes freezing.
If you are thinking of installing a solar power system in your home, you need to calculate the amount of power the system can produce using winter sunshine hours. Using this metric means you will meet your energy needs in the winter, while greatly exceeding them in the summer. And even more exciting, on some plans, you can receive money from utility companies if you use less energy than you generate.
Storm doors and windows offer better air flow in the home. They will help prevent cold air drafts in your home. When homes have windows and doors that are stormed, 45 percent less energy is used, which can decrease electric bills.
You can save on your energy bill by dressing warmly. Lighter sweaters can add 2 more degrees of warmth, while heavy sweaters increase warmth by 4 degrees. So, to save some money, pick up a nice warm sweater and refrain from dressing scantily.
Active Solar Power
Be sure to learn more about passive and active solar power. Passive solar power is power on demand and does not require cells for power storage. Active solar power has plenty of power storing ability so you will have energy ready anytime you may need it. Active power will require a large installation process and can cost a great deal more. Passive is just used via the sun for storing the thermal energy in the walls of your home to heat it.
A laptop is actually a great alternative for consuming less energy as opposed to using a desktop. Laptops use only about one quarter of the power consumption of a full desktop, and is ideal for those that use their computer for surfing the Internet or word processing. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!
In today’s world of high energy coats and environmental worries, “going green” is more important than ever. Several power sources affect the environment less harshly and minimize detrimental effects. Now you know how you can make this world a little greener for our generation and every generation to come.