It’s easier than you think to reduce your home resource consumption. With only a couple changes, and a few big changes, you will be able to reduce the carbon footprint you make, as well as save yourself come money. This article provides several great ideas that you can use to get started.
Storm Doors
In homes with storm doors and windows, air flow is controlled better. Storm doors and windows will reduce the entrance of drafts and cold air. Storm windows and doors boosts energy efficiency as much as 45%, which can cut electricity costs.
Avoid buying bottled water. Bottled water is generally tap water for a city’s water supply, and the the whole bottling process uses too much energy. If you are suspicious of your area’s water supply, try using a re-usable metal bottle with a replaceable filter.
When you consider solar heat for your home calculate potential hours of sunshine for energy generation during the winter months. This will guarantee that you will have energy no matter what the weather brings, and it will result in a surplus during the summer. If your electric company bills on net usage, you will actually make money because yu generate more power than you consume.
Take time to maintain your fridge properly. Refrigerators take lots of energy to run, so it’s crucial to make sure it is running effectively. Make sure to clean heating coils often. It’s important to check that the seal is tight and clean around the refrigerator door.
A solar oven is an energy efficient way of baking. You can create a solar over using common household items, including aluminum foil and a clean box. These types of oven can become very hot with adequate sunlight, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
Change the settings of your thermostat depending on the time of year and fluctuating temperatures. In the colder months, consider lowering your thermostat a few degrees, and in warmer months, raise the thermostat a few degrees. In addition to doing this, try wearing less or more clothing (depending on the weather), and reduce energy usage in your home and keep your temperature reasonable.
One easy way to stay green in summertime is to set your thermostat’s temperature five degrees higher than normal. This can reduce the cost to cool your home by up to 20%. To further cool your home without using the air conditioner as much, you could use fans to circulate air.
You should get a washing machine that loads from the front instead of the top to save energy. Not only do front loading machines use less water, they clean clothes more efficiently. They also consume less energy and save you money in the process.
Look at the seals on your freezer and refrigerator often to save energy. Your refrigerator needs more energy to maintain its temperature if the seal is broken. This wastes energy and raises your energy bills. A good way to test this is to see if a piece of paper can be held in the door or if it slips out easily.
Save money on your electric bills by being stingy about light usage. During the bright months, try not to use lights until it becomes necessary. Install dimmers to reduce the amount of energy lights require, and use sensors or timers to prevent lights from staying on when no one is in the room.
Keep your windows shaded when trying to conserve energy. Shades or curtains can also help. Since your home will become cooler, you will not have to use the air conditioning that much. You will save energy, as well as money.
Green electronics may seem expensive in the beginning; however, the amount of energy saved will pay off over the life of the equipment. While greener technology is often more expensive initially, the long-term savings will more than offset this. The environment will also benefit.
Water-saving toilets can get you started on a greener lifestyle. It has been estimated that as much as 50 percent of the water which is used in one’s home is flushed down the toilet. Older toilets use 5 gallons per flush, whereas new models use less than 2 gallons.
Use the ideas you have read in this article, and start incorporating them into your plan for your household. You will save money on your energy bills and help environmental conservation efforts by doing so. By striving to use green energy, you will help protect our environment.
GetATT Systemsfor reading
