Alternative energy, like solar, wind, or hydro, is a great way to decrease home costs while helping the environment. If you want to incorporate green habits in your home immediately, read the following article to learn how to save money and the planet.
Do your best to keep your windows shaded from any sunlight. Shading the windows with curtains and blinds will keep out the sun in summer and keep the heat from escaping in winter. These actions will reduce the air conditioning usage during the hot summer months, and yet your home will still remain cooler. You will save money and energy at the same time.
Try wearing natural fabrics in the summer as opposed to using the air conditioner. Cotton and linen wick away moisture from your skin so that you stay cooler. Wear light colors; dark colors tend to make you feel warm and you will be likelier to turn on the air conditioner.
Reduce your energy consumption by unplugging anything that is not in use, especially battery chargers. Charging devices for several common types of electronics, including laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players all draw “phantom power” if you keep them plugged in while they are idle.
Be sure to cover your windows with drapes or blinds when not at home. This keeps your house cool and your energy costs down when you’re not there. Usually, windows that face south receive the most sunlight. Dark drapes, or even energy-efficient lined drapes, are your best bet.
Research different sources of green energy available to your community. Check the cost of running your home using these utilities, taking into consideration any recent legislation regarding 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.
If you are aiming to save energy and money, try running the dishwasher only when the load is completely full. Don’t run it when there are only a few dishes there. You might be surprised by how much you can actually fit in the dishwasher. Experiment with different ways of loading the dishwasher in order to fit in as many dishes as possible.
When not using things, turn them off. When you leave the room you should think about what is not in use, like the lights, a television or your home theater. Put all of your entertainment electronics on a power strip you can turn off, as this will stop appliances from going into a power draining stand-by mode.
Take time out to properly inspect your refrigerator. Refrigerators use a large amount of electricity, and keeping it in good condition ensures this energy footprint is as low as it can be. Every week, check and see if dust has accumulated near the heating coils. If it has, take the time to remove it. Inspect the door’s seal for tightness and cleanliness.
Use a tankless water heater instead of one that uses a tank. These still use gas and electricity to heat water, but they heat only what you use instead of continuously heating the whole tank. Tankless heaters come in various models that either supply a single faucet or the whole house with hot water.
Use a laptop computer instead of desktop, which uses much more energy. These portable machines will reduce your electrical use by 75% while you do everyday tasks. Another benefit of the laptop is that it’s portable, so it can be used anywhere.
Step Towards
When you take a small step towards using more green energy, you take a big step towards saving yourself money and protecting Earth. As you have seen, it does not take a great deal of effort to go green, so start using the tips from this article to make your home more sustainable and efficient.