Our home is our castle, but that doesn’t mean that we should be selfish about the world outside our door focusing on Green Energy. It is up to us to take care of our environment, and that can start in our home. Read on to find some ideas that will help you implement green energy solutions within your home. When building your home, pay attention to its orientation. An ideal home should be protected against overhead sun during the summer and be oriented so that it gets low-angle sun in the winter. This is a good way to save money on your heating bill and will keep your home cool in the summer. Be sure to cover your windows with drapes or blinds when not at home. Your house will stay cool and you won’t use as much energy this way. Usually, the windows that face south tend to get more sun exposure. Dark, lined curtains, roman shades or roller shades may be something to consider using on your windows.
Green living is not only about buying the right products, but it is about saving on energy when ever possible. When you are not in the room, take the time to turn off your ceiling fans to conserve energy and not waste power. If you are not in the room, there is no need to have the fan on. If you are charging products within your home, use smart green ideas to conserve energy by unplugging these devices when you are done. Even when they are fully charged, these units still consume energy and cost you money. So unplug them when they are finished, and save some energy and money.
Try sealing gaps underneath your doors and windows during the summer and winter. This can prevent the warm or cool air from outside from entering your home, which will help keep your home at a good temperature all year. You could also try putting in rugs to provide more insulation to your floorboards. If you are in favor of using green energy to save money as well as to help the environment, try using an energy system that omits fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, as these tend to emit carbon dioxide. Instead, use a renewable energy system such as solar, wind or hydro-power. Wash your clothes in cold water. Clothes come just as clean if you use cold water instead of hot water, and making the switch can save a lot of energy. Most of the energy used to wash clothes is the energy the water heater uses to heat the water.
If you can afford it, invest in a laptop rather than using a desktop as they tend to use more Green Energy. It can mean a savings of up to seventy-five percent on the electricity if you are a frequent Internet user or if you use word-processing software. Plus, you can take your laptop with you anywhere you go! Don’t use your dishwasher until you have a full load. Make sure your dishwasher is full before using it, because it takes the same amount of water and energy to wash a full load as it does half a load. Use the shortest cycle possible, if you can, turn the dishwasher off prior to the drying cycle, opening the door. This allows the dishes to air dry. If you have a garden you need to water, but you want to save energy, stay away from a hose and use a watering can instead. Hoses use up a lot of energy and will increase your water bill. Even though it may take longer to use this method, it is worth it.
Know when your appliances need to be replaced. If you have a major appliance, such as a furnace or air conditioner that is over 10 years old, you should replace them with newer, more energy-efficient models. Buying the newer, Green Energy Star appliances can save you a lot in the years to come. Heat rooms separately to save heating costs. Get yourself a floor heating system that has one main board that lets you review all areas, and choose specific temperatures for each one. If you live in a large home, this is a wonderful solution.
When you are cooking on your stove top, try to use a pan that fits the cooker ring just right. This will help to prevent heat loss. Also, when you can, put a lid on top of saucepans. In addition to heating your food up quicker, it will use less energy. Wash your clothing in cold water. By staying away from warm and hot water washing cycles, you take the need to heat the water out of the picture, meaning more energy saved! With today’s modern cold water detergents there is little to no effect on your clothing, so make the switch today to save some energy. Contact your local utility company to see if purchasing energy from renewable sources is an option for you. Buying green energy directly from a power company is one of the easiest ways to go green with your energy use, without having to invest in any major alterations to your home.
An excellent green energy tip is to purchase ENERGY STAR rated CFLs. Not only will they save you money over the long run. They produce about 70% less heat than a standard light bulb, are safer to use, and will lower home cooling costs. ENERGY STAR rated light bulbs also transmit light more effectively and evenly than the standard bulb. Avoid using bottled water. The bottling process uses a lot of energy, and the water may have come from another city’s tap. If you choose not to use tap water from your area, you can buy a re-usable water bottle with a filter.
By changing your life at home, you’ll find that it has a greater impact on the world. If every person made the changes listed in this article, imagine how great the world could be! It’s important that you take your first steps towards being more green, so that everyone can benefit from the change.
