Going green does not have to be costly, nor take too much of your time. There are a few simple changes you can make to your home that will drastically reduce your utility bills while helping the environment. Read this article for ways to use helpful green energy!
Be sure to cover your windows with drapes or blinds when not at home. You will lower your energy costs since this will help keep your home nice and cool. Southern facing windows receive the most sunlight. Install window coverings like heavy curtains, drapes, roman or roller shades, or blinds on all windows.
Research different types of energy sources which may be available in your area. Check the cost of running your home using these utilities, taking into consideration any recent legislation regarding energy costs. It may be beneficial to switch from electric heat to natural gas heat, or from city water to well water, for example.
Run the dishwasher when it's full instead of half-full in order to save energy and money. Don't run it when there are only a few dishes there. Once you learn how to properly fill a dishwasher, you will be amazed at the number of dishes that can be washed in one load. Strategically load your dishwasher so that you fit in as many dishes as possible.
If you have a dishwasher make sure you only run it when it is full. No matter how many dishes you have in there, it still uses the same level of energy. When you run the dishwasher, see to it that you are using its energy-saving setting; that will allow the dishes to dry using air.
Calculate potential energy generation during the planning of buying home solar systems. You will have more than enough energy during the summer months, while avoiding falling short during the winter. You may even get rebates from your utility company in summer months if you sign up for net usage and use solar panels.
If you are on a mission to go green, start by keeping electric heaters off or on a very low setting during winter months. Rather, purchase some warmer clothes for your family and use a pellet stove or fireplace to heat up the living areas. Cooler air is better for sleeping anyway, because it prevents airways from becoming dry.
Check and manage your watt usage. Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt are both tools that help to monitor energy consumption. Plus an appliance into the gadget and it will tell you how much energy it is using. You can then use this information to find out how much the appliance really costs to run.
If you're one of a lot of people who want to have a greener life and you desire to save our planet's energy, there's lots of things that you can do. You can do things like clean your furnace or change the settings to 60 degrees when you aren't at home. Setting your water heater's temperature to a maximum 120 degrees will also save money. The little things add up.
Anyone can see benefits from using green energy, even if they don't believe global warming is harmful. Green energy not only protects the environment, but also saves money.
