Many people discuss how important green energy is for a better environment and future. However, many people are remiss for solutions or ideas that can help them live a greener lifestyle. This article provides numerous tips for people interested in living a green life.
Insulate your home. A pre-1950 home that isn’t insulated will use approximately 60 percent more energy than a house built after 2000. Adding sufficient insulation to your attic and basement will greatly improve your home’s energy efficiency. As well as keeping you warm in the winter, you will find that the home remains much cooler in the summer months, reducing the need for an air conditioner.
Many people who own homes with air-conditioning fail to realize how much energy these units use. If you have an air-conditioned home, consider a greener way of cooling off by saving the energy used to cool the air. Try to save air-conditioning for the hottest days. Keep blinds and drapes drawn during the hottest hours and open windows and doors after the sun goes down. Ceiling fans can also help a great deal!
If you want to save energy, try not to use your dishwasher very often. Instead, let your dishes air dry. Dishwashers tend to use much energy, and because they use so much power, your electricity and water bill will be through the roof. If you have to use the dishwasher, put it in a low setting.
Get your whole family thinking about green energy by stocking organic, recycled, or eco-friendly products. Ask your kids to identify such products on the shelves at the store and explain why those products are better for your family, your home, and your environment. You can also segue such conversations into other eco-friendly practices like shutting off the water while brushing your teeth or turning off lights when not in a room.
Rather than using an energy-hogging desktop computer, switch to a laptop. You can save a ton of electricity by using a laptop. The Internet and most word processing software packages use much energy on desktop computers, so getting a laptop can save money if you use these features. Additionally, you can carry a laptop with you, so it’s possible to use it wherever you want.
To help you increase your clean-energy consumption, try using wind energy. The wind is a very clean type of alternative energy, and it can help you cut your electricity bill a ton. If this solution interests you, check with your local authority to ensure you have proper zoning and also ensure you have sufficient space.
To help you increase the amount of green energy you use in your home, try starting by using one room at a time. Powering your home using green energy can be very expensive, so if you are in financial hardship, identify the rooms with the most energy usage and start with those first.
Replace old, energy-hogging appliances with new versions that are Energy Star rated. Appliances with an Energy Star rating state that the particular appliance being used is made to consume less energy than its predecessor that is not rated. Appliances like fridges and freezers can use up to 20% less energy while washing machines can save 50%.
A great way to go green is to replace your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights or LEDs. These light bulbs use about one-fifth of the energy as regular light bulbs but can last twelve times longer. They also don’t generate as much heat, so they are particularly useful in the summer months.
Keep an eye out for Energy Star labels when shopping for energy-efficient appliances. ENERGY STAR appliances are designed to follow guidelines from the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA. ENERGY STAR products are useful for tax credits.
Some forms of insulation do not require professional services but can simply be pushed into an open area. These types of insulation are ideal for improving the energy efficiency of everything from your attic to your crawl spaces to your basement and the spaces between floors. This type of insulation can also be inserted whenever you repair drywall.
If you have a tank-style water heater that you aren’t prepared to replace yet, conserve electricity or natural gas by lowering its thermostat. By changing the thermostat from the factory-set 140 degrees to 120 degrees, the heater requires 6 to 10 percent less energy to keep your water hot.
When you invest in green energy, you are not only helping to reduce any monthly electric bills you would normally have. You are also helping the environment by consuming less energy from outside sources, allowing fewer greenhouse gases to be emitted into the atmosphere, making the world a healthier place to live in.
One simple way to update your home with green technology is to install solar panels. These can help decrease the amount of energy you use and save you some money. Not to mention they are not extremely expensive and are easy to install. There are even some government incentives for updating your home with solar panels.
Those looking to reduce their energy consumption would be wise to make their ice. An automatic ice maker uses more energy than just making your ice. The seals for automatic ice makers are prone to leakage, which can increase the freezer’s temperature. Make your ice and skip the ice maker!
Turn off appliances when you aren’t using them. This will eliminate much of the unneeded heat generated in your home. Ensure to unplug everything when it is not in use; this will lower your energy costs because appliances still pull a bit of power from the outlet even if the appliance is off.
Conclusion:
As mentioned at the start of this article, green energy has garnered quite a bit of interest in the media and everyday people. Sadly, some people aren’t sure how they can implement green changes to live a more sustainable life. This article provided suggestions for environmentally concerned and compassionate people.
