If you plan to purchase lighting for your deck or patio, you should give solar-powered lamps a try. Not only are they a reasonable purchase price, but they do not require electricity to run. You save a lot of energy in the process. It also means you don’t need to wire your outdoor lights.
You’ve probably heard others talk about green energy, but you may not know what it is. If you have questions about greener energy use and why you should look into it for your home, this article should provide a lot of help to you. Keep reading to find out the basics of green energy technology and how you can put it to use in your life.
Solar hot water heaters are an excellent way to have lower costs on your hot water energy use. Install a water heating system that uses solar power. Two types are available, direct and indirect. If frozen pipes are common in your area, an indirect water heater will be your best option.
When drawing up the landscaping plans for a garden path or patio, incorporate solar-powered lamps. They are inexpensive and don’t require electricity. You save a lot of energy in the process. It also means that you avoid having to go outside and wire up outdoor lights.
Do some research and learn about passive and active solar powers. Active power is energy that gets stored and is used later. Passive is energy that can be used without expensive cells. Active solar power requires solar panels, cells, and mechanical systems. Passive is just used via the sun for storing the thermal energy in the walls of your home to heat it.
Wear natural fabrics instead of always using the air conditioning during summer. Natural fibers like cotton can absorb moisture from your skin, helping you feel cooler. Wear lighter colors, as warmer colors make you feel warmer and more likely to put on artificial cold air.
Think about baking with a solar oven. A solar oven can be made by using an old window, a box and for reflection, a piece of foil. These types of oven can become very hot with adequate sunlight, and cook some foods without any additional energy source.
Be a better consumer of energy, and cut your home energy usage by unplugging your electronic chargers when they are not in use. Unplug your electronic devices when they are not being used or fully charged. This wastes energy otherwise.
You can use biofuels as home heating fuels. Biofuels consist of vegetable or animal fats, wood and oils. You can hire a professional to adjust your propane furnace to be capable of using any type of fuel you desire. This is between 20 to 99% biodiesel. Always consult with professionals prior to using this type of fuel in the home.
Use cold water for laundry, whenever you can. If you use warm or hot water in your washing machine, almost 90% of your energy use goes towards heating the water. If your detergent is decent, cold water will be as effective as hot when cleaning your laundry. Additionally, it is more energy-efficient if you are washing full loads instead of small ones.
Use motion detection sensors on lights in the most popular rooms of your house. Use these sensors to turn the lights off when no one is in the room, which will save you money as you use less energy. Include sensors on your outdoor lighting and lights in the garage, as well.
When putting in a new solar energy system, the batteries that store the power should be kept really close together to the cells. By doing so, energy loss through the cable is reduced. It also prevents the cable covering the cells, which would reduce their generation capability.
If you could not get an energy source that is renewable, such as solar energy to use for your whole house, try to see if you could get power installed to power a portion of your home. You can use solar panels to heat water, for example.
Storm doors and windows can make air flow in the home better. This will reduce drafts, make your home more comfortable, and reduce your energy usage. You can increase the energy efficiency in your house by up to 45 percent with stormed windows and doors.
Don’t drink 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 are suspicious of your area’s water supply, try using a re-usable metal bottle with a replaceable filter.
Green Technology
You can make small improvements to your home to make it more energy efficient, such as changing the type of light bulbs you use. Of course, you can also make large-scale improvements such as putting in solar panels. You will be amazed at the huge impact that small changes can make on the environment and your bottom line. Begin by choosing one, small project.
Since you now have a better idea of how to use different green technology in your household to your advantage, you can slowly make efforts to change your home. Use these tips to start using green technology in your own home. Both your wallet and the environment will thank you when you use this type of technology.
When the season changes, adjust the settings on your thermostat. Keep it lower in the winter and higher in the summer, and dress accordingly. Adjusting what you wear will let you use less energy in order to maintain a comfortable temperature.