Reconfiguring your home to use less energy is easier than it has ever been before. A few thoughtful changes can minimize your carbon footprint, as well as save money in your bills. The article below is here to help you get started.
Find out more about the different energy solutions in your community. Look into the cost of operating your home with each of your options, keeping in mind any recent changes to legislation about energy costs. It may be beneficial to switch from electric heat to natural gas heat, or from city water to well water, for example.
Instead of turning on the air conditioner, wear fabrics made of natural materials. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw moisture naturally from the skin, making it cooler. Wear lighter colors, as warmer colors make you feel warmer and more likely to put on artificial cold air.
The green energy field is booming right now, with new jobs being created every day. You might want to change your career path or let other people know that a job in the green energy field is something that is growing and going to last. Research the field to find information about new jobs in the green energy sector, such as openings in solar or wind technologies.
A programmable thermostat is a wonderful tool for green energy. You can program them so your heating and cooling are minimized when you are sleeping or not at home. Some models even have the option to program different times for each day, they can be customized to suit your schedule.
It's important to maintain your refrigerator properly. Refrigerators constantly use energy to maintain cooler temperatures. If it is not properly cared for, it will use much more energy than it needs to. Make dusting the coils part of your weekly cleaning routine. Check frequently to ensure that the door seals tightly.
Attach solar panels to the roof of your home to make it greener. The cost of installing solar panels is small compared to the amount you will save over the years on energy bills. Not only will the energy you generate take care of your electric bill, there may even be some left over to sell to your electric company.
When drawing up the landscaping plans for a garden path or patio, incorporate solar-powered lamps. They don't use any energy other than solar energy and they are cost effective. This not only reduces energy costs, It means you don't have to wire up outdoor lights.
Don't run your dishwasher if it is less than totally full. A half load uses the exact same amount of water and energy as a full one. Also, use your dishwasher's energy-saver setting so that the load will air-dry.
One way to reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator/freezer uses is to periodically thaw foods stored in the refrigerator that have frozen. Not only will this safely thaw the food, but also the cold air than emanates from the frozen goods will help the refrigerator to stay cool, reducing overall energy consumption.
Avoid buying bottled water. In many cases, bottled water is simply municipal water that has been bottled, and bottling and shipping it wastes lots of energy. If you think your community's tap water is either unhealthy or tastes bad, buy a metal water bottle that can be used over and over again, and invest in a replaceable filter.
Lights should be turned off when not in use. Lighting your home at night is necessary, but turn them off if a room is not being used. Unless you need to, do not leave cabinet or porch lights on. This can lower the amount of energy you use.
Think about the ideas provided in this article, and try to come up with a way to implement them in your home. Your energy bills will go down and the good you are doing for your environment will increase. Before long, you will have one of the greenest homes around!
