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Many homeowners get overwhelmed at the thought of changine their home to make it a greener environment. There are many things that you can easily do to help protect the environment. Take time to read the following guidelines to determine the things that could greatly benefit your house.
Switch to solar heating systems for water to lower your cost of indoor water. Both natural gas and electricity are inefficient heating methods, while solar water heaters use the sun to constantly heat your water. While many of these upgrades have high up-front costs, they may qualify for tax credits or other rebates.
Replace or clean your furnace filters yearly, and recheck them monthly. If your air intakes and registers do not have filters, take the time to install them. This will help ensure debris doesn’t enter heating ducts, thereby reducing your efficiency.
If you currently use fuel oil for home heating, ask your local technician how you can switch over to biodiesel fuel. Many heating systems can be switched over to run on biodiesel without needing extra modifications or parts. Bio-diesel fuels burn more efficiently and cleaner than conventional petroleum- based fuel oil.
Discover all the different sources of energy in your community. Consider the expense of energy use in your home utilizing these energy sources while noting recent legislation about energy costs. 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.
Use solar energy to provide hot water cheaply. You can go shopping for a solar system that will heat your water. It is possible to chose between direct and indirect circulation systems. The best option for you is the indirect one if you might have frozen pipes.
Use a model which is tankless and more green instead of a tank style heater. While they do require energy to heat the water, they require only a small amount of energy to heat a smaller amount of water. You can either get a tankless heater for your entire house or for a only one faucet.
If green energy is a concept which you embrace, minimize the use of electrical heaters during the winter months. You can wear warmer clothing instead, and warm up your home with your fireplace. Also, it has been shown that people sleep better in cool environments.
If you dress warmer, you will help cut energy costs, which helps you to go green. 2 degrees of warmth is added by wearing a light sweater, and 4 degrees with a heavy one. Wearing slightly heavier clothes is not any less comfortable and can save you significant money.
If you’re one of many who wants to live an environmentally friendly life, there’s plenty you can do. Even if you don’t have a ton of money, you can do simple things, like monthly cleaning of the filters in your furnace or lowering the thermostat to 60 degrees when you’re not going to be home. Reduce your water heater to 120 degrees, this can save you a lot of money. Even small steps that you take can add up to a big difference!
Create written reminders of your goals regarding energy efficiency, and compare your utility bills to those of the previous year to determine whether you are making positive steps. You can reduce your energy use just by being aware of what you are spending. For example, if you make a conscious effort to cut down on your water or electricity usage, then you are more likely to make a habit out of shutting off unused lights or appliances.
Replace your traditional holiday lights with strings of LED’s. According to a U.S. study. By having everyone make this change, the country can save 2 billion kilowatt power hours. This electricity could power more than 200,000 houses for a year. Saving money on your electric bill is the least that can happen.
Energy Star
Replace your older appliances with the newer, energy-efficient ones that have Energy Star ratings. To receive an Energy Star rating from the government, appliances must meet minimum efficiency standards, unlike the non-rated appliances you may currently own. For freezers and refrigerators, the rating guarantees 20 percent less energy used, 40 percent for dishwashers, and at least 50 percent when it comes to washing machines.
Water-saving toilets are easy to find and install. People have estimated that you flush about 50% of the water from your house down the toilet. Older toilet models use up to 70 percent more water per year than newer ones.
Even though everyone knows better, many people do not bother to turn off electrical devices when they finish using them. What they don’t understand is that doing so would save them a great deal on their utility bills. Resolve to turn off lights and equipment when you are not using them.
Your electric company can assist you in making your home energy-efficient. Lots of utility companies have information on their websites about your energy consumption and tips you can implement to save cash. Look into programs that help you buy energy-efficient appliances.
A simple way to identify appliances that are energy efficient is to search for an ENERGY STAR logo. If the appliance has an ENERGY STAR, it means it meets guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Energy and additionally the EPA Products that meet ENERGY STAR criteria are usually eligible for some form of tax rebate.
Put lights sensors with motion detectors in the rooms you use the most. These sensors turn off automatically when people aren’t in the room, which saves you money. Don’t forget to use this with outdoor lighting!
The type of green energy system that will work for your home depends on the location and orientation of your house. These differences can tend to cause some green technologies to not be available and to not work in certain places. Not every method will be right for every home. Find tips that work in your home and use them!
