Tag Archive: storm windows

Why Green Energy Is Becoming More Popular

Having green energy at home is an excellent method of protecting the environment, while saving money. Buying an electric car isn’t the only way to reap these rewards! Continue reading to learn some easy ways you can use more green energy, regardless of your budget.

When drawing up the landscaping plans for a garden path or patio, incorporate solar-powered lamps. Solar lamps are relatively inexpensive and can save you a great deal on wiring and electricity expenses. This will end up saving you a lot of energy. As an added benefit, you are spared the trouble of running an outdoor wiring system.

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. Wearing lighter colors will also help, because they tend to reflect light.

Solar Energy

It is fairly simple to have solar panels installed to tap into solar energy to use in your home. However, you must consider a few issues before getting started. What you need to know first is how much of the sun does your home generally receive? You can’t take as much advantage of solar energy if your house gets a lot of shade rather than sun.

Storm doors and storm windows help to better control air flow in the home. Storm windows and doors prevent cold air drafts filtering into openings. Homeowners will see a significant savings on their electric bill and will benefit from an increase in the energy efficiency of their home by up to 45 percent once stormed windows and doors are installed in their homes.

Look for rebates for green-energy technology installations. Local utility companies often offer rebates for upgrades. If not, there might be tax credits or deductions available from the federal or state government. These offers make installing and using a green energy system much more affordable.

Using light bulbs that are energy-efficient, or cleaning your furnace filter, are great ways to save energy. Once other people see how easy going green is, they will want to go green too. Use the advice you’ve learned here and start saving money and the planet today!

Green Energy In The Average Family: Tips And Tricks

Incorporating green energy into your home is an easy way to reduce energy usage, and save the environment at the same time. This doesn’t mean you must purchase an electric car. Keep reading to find out how to make your household more energy efficient, no matter your budget.

Just start using less energy every day. When you aren’t using an appliance, unplug it. Turn off lights, television sets and other small appliances when you are done using them. This is an easy way to save cash as well.

Do you have your own farm? Farms are the perfect place to put a wind turbine. If you don’t have a farm, you might be able to rent from someone. Not only does it take up very little space, both you and the neighbors will greatly benefit from this free energy.

If you use fuel oil to heat your home, a technician can give you information about changing over to biodiesel. Switching to biodiesel is often doable without system modification. Biodiesel fuel runs more efficiently and is cleaner for the environment, reducing your home’s impact on the environment during winter months.

Maintain your refrigerator. Your fridge consumes a ton of energy, so make sure it’s in good shape. Make dusting the coils part of your weekly cleaning routine. Inspect the door’s seal for tightness and cleanliness.

Storm Windows

The flow of air in a home is better controlled when you have stormed windows and doors installed. Storm windows and doors prevent cold air drafts filtering into openings. Sometimes electric savings can be up to 45 percent on homes that have storm windows as opposed to single pane windows.

Pay careful attention to rebates that may help you save money on renewable energy. Sometimes your utility company may offer additional rebates which will help pay for the expense of the systems. If this is not possible, you can find out if upgrades can be used as tax deductions. You may also be able to get credits from the government, either state or federal. These credits and rebates could reduce the cost associated to installing green technology in your house.

You can save energy by changing your furnace filter, getting a thermostat that is programmable and using light bulbs that are energy efficient. Set an example for your family members, so more people will realize how easy it is to go green! Keep these tips in mind and use them.

Green Energy Tips And Techniques For Your Home

You can make a difference and save energy simply by taking steps to use less energy every day. If there is an appliance you aren’t using, then unplug it. Be diligent about switching off the television or lighting if you aren’t using them. This may be a simple tip, but it does save you money.

TIP! Consume energy more wisely by unplugging your device chargers when they are not in use. Mp3, cell phone, laptop, and various other device chargers draw power when they’re plugged in, no matter if it’s charging or not.

Have you heard those around you talking about going green, or green energy, but you were not sure what they were talking about? If you want to know more about green technology or energy, you’re in the right spot. See the tips presented here to help the planet and save money at the same time.

Furnace filters should be replaced annually, and check them monthly for cleanliness. It’s a good call to add filters to warm air registers. This will prevent a reduction in efficiency, which occurs when the heating ducts get clogged with debris.

TIP! One thing you might consider is heating your water with solar water heaters. If you live where freezing temperatures aren’t prevalent, you can purchase a system that can circulate water via a solar heater prior to being pumped to your home.

Some government money is available to assist consumers with switching to renewable energy. To find out which programs are available in your area contact your local government. For example you may be able to qualify for a grant for the installation of solar or wind powered technologies.

Investigate all of the energy sources your community has to offer. Find out what the cost would be to switch, how much it would cost to maintain, and whether your government has any legislation regarding its use. For example, it may be cheaper for you to heat your home with natural gas as opposed to electricity, or use well water instead of city water.

TIP! If you are not using something, turn it off. When you leave any room, turn off lights, tvs, computers or any other electrical devices.

Your furnace filters should be replaced annually, and inspected for monthly cleanings. You should also install filters on any warm-air registers included with your furnace. These filters keep debris or toys from entering the duct-work, which could reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.

If you are really committed to going green, one way to do so is to limit how often you use your electric heater in winter. Ways to cut down on electricity include wearing warm clothing indoors and using a fireplace to heat your home. Cool air while sleeping is better for your breathing.

TIP! Take the time to learn about active, and passive solar power. Active power is the power stored for later use and passive doesn’t require pricey cells for storing power.

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. The heating coils should be cleaned regularly to remove the accumulated dust. In addition, be sure your door seal is tight and clean.

If you aspire to live a green, environmentally friendly lifestyle, there are many options for you. Simply cleaning filters in the furnace and setting temperatures lower can help! Lowering the temperature of your water heater can save energy as well. Every small change helps!

Storm Windows

One option available to you for heating your home is biofuels. Biofuels consist of vegetable or animal fats, wood and oils. If you have a propane furnace, a professional can usually make changes that allow you to use this blend of fuels. That is roughly 20 to 99 percent biodiesel. Schedule a consultation with a professional prior to making the switch to biofuels in your home.

TIP! Get appliances that have an Energy Star rating. An appliance that has Energy Star uses less energy than an appliance that doesn’t have it.

If you have storm windows and doors in your home it helps control air flow. This is because storm windows and doors prevent drafts, which means less cold air enters the home. Storm windows and doors boosts energy efficiency as much as 45%, which can cut electricity costs.

Replace your old toilet with a water-saving one. Estimates show that 50% of water used in a home is to flush the toilet. Older models of toilets can have a capacity of 5 gallons. That is 5 gallons of wasted water per flush. New water saving models use closer to a gallon and a half of water per flush. This can save 70 percent of the water you used previously.

TIP! Although this may seem like common sense, many people still keep the lights, appliances and electronics on when they are not using them. If you make this a habit, your energy bills could be greatly reduced.

Switch as much of your correspondence as possible to email. Live a paperless lifestyle whenever possible. This helps businesses to save energy as well as consumers. In addition, it will help protect the environment for all.

If you spend the money on green appliances and electronics now, you’ll save over time. You usually have to pay a bit more upfront for green technologies, but you will save far more than the difference over time with reduced energy costs. It is also going to ultimately pay off for the environment.

TIP! Separately heating each room will help you to lower your heating bill. One way to do this is to purchase a floor heater that has a main control that will let you monitor individual areas, and allow you to choose the temperature in each area.

Don’t use a lot of heat during the winter if it’s not absolutely necessary. Put on a sweater and sweatpants when it’s cold. When you keep the heat unnecessarily high you use far more energy than you need to–and that is expensive!

If you are unable to completely power your home using solar power, consider installing solar panels to power at least the lighting in your home. You can use solar panels to heat water, for example.

Green Energy

Don’t drink bottled water. Water in bottles is usually just municipal water, and the process of bottling uses a great deal of energy. You can use a water filter and a re-useable water bottle to get clean water if you’re worried about how clean your city’s water is.

TIP! Try collecting rainwater for use in appliances, like your toilet. This can save you cash on your utilities and make a good environmental impact.

Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you should be ready to convert to green energy. Take some of these tips and use them to create some of your own green energy! You will not only help the environment by saving electricity, but will also save money on your monthly utility bills.

To keep your home very green and warm, inspect your insulation. If your house is more than 30 years old, it probably needs a lot more insulation. This keeps the house warmer and cuts energy bills.

Green Energy Advice You Should Know About

One way to help conserve energy is to use window treatment to block sunlight. Use curtains or blinds as an alternative. If you do both of these it will cool your house down so you won’t have to use as much air conditioning in the summer. You will save energy and money as well.

TIP! Instead of blasting the air conditioner to keep cool in summer, wear clothes made from naturally cooling fabrics. Fabrics such as cotton draw moisture from the skin, which allows you to stay much cooler.

Many people are interested in going green, but don’t know how to start. There are countless solutions for helping people preserve the environment by using renewable, alternative sources of energy. This article has great tips to help you use green energy now.

Replace or clean your furnace filter at least once every 90 days, and check it once per month for build-up. You should put filters in registers that are warm-air too. This stops debris from blocking heating ducts.

TIP! When you can, wash your clothes using cold water. The vast majority of the energy you use for washing clothes is needed to heat the water.

Try wearing natural fabrics in the summer as opposed to using the air conditioner. Cotton and other fabrics draw sweat from the skin and make you cool. Wear light colors; dark colors tend to make you feel warm and you will be likelier to turn on the air conditioner.

If your home is heated with fuel oil, ask a technician if you can switch to biodiesel. Depending on your system, you may be able to switch to biodiesel without having to make any modifications to your system. Biodiesel is great because it is more efficient and produces less pollution that standard oil, which will reduce your carbon footprint.

TIP! One thing you might consider is heating your water with solar water heaters. If you live somewhere where you don’t have to be concerned with temperatures that are freezing, you can use a system that circulates water through the solar heater before it gets pumped into your home.

Be a smarter energy consumer by unplugging your electronic device chargers when they are not in use. Whether you are charging your device or not, chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cellphones and other electronics keep drawing electrical power as long as they stay plugged in.

Batteries need to be situated closely to the cells in solar power systems. This avoids power loss in the cable. It can also lessen the probability of cable shading, which reduces power-generation capabilities.

TIP! Take time out to properly inspect your refrigerator. The refrigerator hogs energy, so it should work well.

Don’t run the dishwasher unless it is filled to capacity. It will use the same quantity of water or energy even if one dish is in it. When you run a dishwasher, use the ‘energy-saver’ setting so dishes can air-dry.

Swap out your tank water heater for a tankless type. Although they still use gas or electricity, they only heat on demand rather than maintaining an entire tank of hot water at all times. There are models available that provide on-demand hot water for a whole house or just one faucet.

TIP! Learn all you can about solar power that is active and passive. Active power is the power stored for later use and passive doesn’t require pricey cells for storing power.

When designing your solar PV system, try to locate the battery storage system as close to the PV cells as possible. Power is less likely to be lost in cables this way. It also lowers the risk of the cable casting a shadow over the cells, which reduces their ability to generate power.

A good tip is to always microwave when cooking in order to save energy. Any time you use the oven or stove, you’re using a lot of energy. Take advantage of the microwave when you can.

Install Storm

Even though people know better, they often forget to turn off unused appliances, lights and computer equipment. If a person put this practice into action, he or she would save a huge amount on the electric bill. Think about what you do before you do it, and turn off those lights and appliances when they are not in use.

TIP! If you spend the money on green appliances and electronics now, you’ll save over time. While they are usually going to be more expensive, green technology products greatly reduce energy usage and, thereby, save money.

To help prevent drafts, install storm doors and storm windows. They will help prevent cold air drafts in your home. Your home’s energy efficiency will increase by as much as 45% if you install storm windows and doors!

A good way to save on energy is to set your heat to 60 degrees while you aren’t home, or at night when you’re asleep. Your home uses the least energy possible when the heat is set to 60 degrees. As stated, lowering your thermostat will minimize the energy needed to heat your home.

TIP! During the winter, keep using ceiling fans. When you change their rotation to clockwise, they move warm air from the ceiling downward, and that keeps the air in the room a little warmer.

Learn about the differences between passive and active solar power. Active power can be stored for later use. Passive power must be utilized more quickly but no expensive storage cells are required. Active solar power requires a lot of involvement in the form of installation, mechanics, and power cells. While passive simply uses the sun in storing thermal energy in your walls in order to heat your house.

Install a programmable thermostat. This can help save money and energy. When you get one of these thermostats you help regulate the temperatures for your home during both the winter and summer months. Depending on your preferences, you could also set it to change temperatures for day or night.

TIP! Water heaters take up a lot of energy, so simply by lowering the temperature to around 120 degrees can save a lot of money. That can save you almost 10% on your power bill if your family size is 4, and will provide you with a safe and adequate temperature for your hot water.

Green energies are bound to become more popular in the next few years, mainly because of the high price of oil. If know what green energy technologies are available, it is much easier to take advantage of them. Apply the ideas from this article, and start enjoying your greener life.

If you want to reduce the amount of energy you use, make ice yourself. The ice makers that are built into refrigerators not only are unreliable, but also use extra energy supplies to work. Ice makers also have more problems with seals leaking, which makes your refrigerator work harder to stay cool. Avoid having these issues by using ice cube trays to make your ice cubes.

Simple And Advanced Green Energy Tips

Lower the cost of heating your indoor water, pools and hot tubs by switching to solar water heating systems. Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat water resulting in energy savings. Even though these upgrades can involve considerable expense, some of them might qualify as green energy tax savings.

TIP! Reduce your energy consumption by unplugging anything that is not in use, especially battery chargers. Whether you are charging your device or not, chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cellphones and other electronics keep drawing electrical power as long as they stay plugged in.

Some homeowners may be uncertain how to convert their energy usage into more environmentally friendly forms. You might be confused by the many different choices, or even feel anxious about where to begin making your own transitions. Read these suggestions to discover the green energy options available for you.

When you can, wash your laundry in cold water. Almost 90% of the energy you use when you do laundry is due to heating water. As long as your detergent is good, cold water washing can be just as effective as warm water. It is also better to clean a full load, not smaller loads.

TIP! Instead of using fuel oil to heat your home, try to make a switch to biodiesel. Many systems can use biodiesels without any modification.

Shade your windows from the sun to prevent energy usage. Additionally, curtains and blinds can enhance the energy-saving effect you achieve. Since this will make your house cooler, you will use the air conditioner less. By blocking the sun’s rays, you will save energy and money.

Only using the dishwasher when it is full will save you money and energy. If you only have a couple of dishes, do not put them in the dishwasher and turn it on. If you do this, you’ll become used to filling the dishwasher with as many dishes as you can. Place the dishes in your dishwasher so you can fit in as many dishes as possible.

Solar Panels

Use electric heaters minimally in the winter. Use a fireplace in place of the heater and wear warm layers of clothing. An additional benefit to limiting the amount of electrical heaters is that it helps prevent your airways from becoming dry, resulting in better breathing.

TIP! If you don’t know what changes to make, consider having a heating expert or plumber come to your home and give you a list of changes you can make to cut your energy costs. They should be able to inform you about extra expenses you are paying for inefficient appliances, as well as the amount it would cost to upgrade to newer, energy-efficient models.

Install solar panels and reap the benefits easily. But, you must think about some things prior to doing this. One major factor to consider with solar panels is the amount of sunlight your home receives. When in a shaded area, or city with less sunny days, there won’t be as many benefits from solar power.

Decide to receive your correspondence through email by opting out of receiving monthly statements. In other words, go paperless as much as possible. This kills two birds with one stone: you save energy and encourage businesses with whom you correspond to do so, as well. Finally, it will also save trees and reduce pollution a great deal in very little time.

TIP! Keep an eye on how many watts of electricity you use. Get a watt monitor such as the Watt Minder or the Kill-A-Watt to find out which appliances use too much energy.

Do you live on a farm? If you or someone you know does, you can rent a piece of your land to a company looking to put in a wind turbine. You will reap the benefits of this energy and the space needed is minimal.

Switching out your boiler for a newer, more efficient model can be a great way to save energy. Older boilers are not as energy efficient as new ones because people didn’t worry about the environment when they were made. Newer boilers produce far less carbon dioxide and reduce energy bills.

TIP! Use the microwave as much as you can to save energy while cooking. Each time you cook in the oven or stove, you tend to use lots of energy.

Check your furnace and air conditioning filters monthly. Clean or replace them as needed. Also, you may want your warm-air registers to have filters. This will help ensure debris doesn’t enter heating ducts, thereby reducing your efficiency.

Use a toilet designed to conserve water. Estimates show that about 50% of your home’s water is used by flushing toilets. Older models used 5 or more gallons of water to flush; today’s water saving models uses a little over 1.5 gallons per flush. That is a 70 percent water savings.

TIP! Although turning off lights or electrical equipment that is not being used seems like an obvious change to make, many people don’t remember to do this. This simple action can save anyone a lot of money on monthly bills.

Using solar energy is one good way to heat water. Buy a hot-water system that is solar-powered. There are systems available that circulate the heat both directly and indirectly. Indirect systems are the best if you have frozen pipes during the winter.

Investing more money up front in green energy appliances will pay off by saving you money over time. Green technologies are often a little more expensive than traditional items but the investment will pay off in the money that you save on decreased utilities. It can also have a beneficial impact on the environment in the long term.

Storm Windows

Use your refrigerator to thaw out food. This is a better way to thaw food, and the cold air that comes from your frozen foods will make your refrigerator cooler, thereby, cutting the energy consumption from your fridge.

TIP! Keep your water heater set to 120 degrees or less to use less energy. This can cut your power bill down by about 10 percent and still fulfill your hot water needs.

When a home has windows and doors stormed air flow is actually better in that household. Storm windows are good at cutting down on the cool air that tries to get in. Homes equipped with storm windows and doors can see an increase in energy efficiency of up to 45 percent.

Try using rainwater for items in your home, such as your toilet. This saves money on the water bill and is good for the environment, too. To collect large amounts of water, install rain barrels to collect water from your gutters. If you only need small amounts of water, just set out jars or buckets to collect water during a rainstorm.

TIP! You can start your journey towards living a more green life today, all it takes is some simple switching of the light bulbs in your house to get started. Just a few different projects you can do yourself will allow you to save money and energy in your home.

Use a tankless water heater instead of one that uses a tank. Tankless versions still need electricity or gas to heat water, but they are more effective in heating solely the water necessary instead of a huge tank of water constantly. Tankless heaters are available in models that supply the entire house or a single faucet with hot water.

Those looking to go green would be wise to invest in a front loading washing machine. These machines use much less water than top loading machines and are actually more efficient at cleaning your clothes. This saves energy, and consequentially, reduces the amount of money you spend each month.

TIP! Insist that your government pass laws that help encourage companies to use green energy. Speaking out for awareness is powerful, and it is not done enough.

Homes greatly vary in layout and geographical area. With all of the different variables, green energy technology will vary significantly for each area. Some tips are universal and work for everyone, and some are not. Use the advice given here to determine which technologies are best suited for your particular situation.

Choose environmentally-friendly lighting for your home. There are several alternatives to incandescent lighting which are much more eco-friendly. They don’t use as much energy as regular bulbs and give you a good amount of lighting in your house. Using these light bulbs is an easy, quick way to make your home greener.

Green Energy Tips That Can Work For Anyone!

In order to conserve energy, try keeping the windows shaded from the sunlight. Use curtains or blinds as an alternative. Since this will make your house cooler, you will use the air conditioner less. You will save both money and energy in the process.

TIP! If possible, use cold water in your clothes washer. Almost 90 percent of energy consumed by washing machines is used when heating the water.

What can green energy do for you? It will help you pay less on your bills and will also allow you to help the environment. Are you concerned as to just how to achieve this? Continue reading for some easy tips that will show you how to assist.

Keep your refrigerator well maintained. Since the fridge consumes lots of energy, it’s key to maintain it in working order. Regularly make sure the heating coils are dust-free. You also want to make sure the door seal is tight and clean.

TIP! Trade out your older, tank-style water heater for a tankless model that is more green. Tankless heaters require less energy to heat water, as they only heat it as needed.

Reduce the price of heating water in pools, hot tubs and inside your home by using solar-powered heating systems. Solar water heaters tap into the abundant and free energy offered by the sun. Water heated by other methods, like natural gas, propane, or electricity, is not an efficient method. Many of these improvements will cost you a bit up front, but the cost savings and tax deductions will usually more than offset that cost.

Instead of buying that new desktop computer, purchase a laptop, as desktops use much more electricity. 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. The other benefit to using laptop over a desktop is that it is portable, so it can be taken anywhere!

TIP! Perhaps you are intimidated by making an large, green energy investment. Seeking the input of a professional, such as a heating/cooling specialist or plumber can educate you on options.

You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. It is important, however, that you do your homework before making the leap. The biggest thing to consider is how much sun does your house get on average? If you live in an area that gets few sunny days, or your property is full of shade trees and tall bushes, you will have trouble gaining enough solar power for your needs.

Don’t turn your heat up too far in the home, unless you need to. If it is a little chilly, simply put on a sweatshirt, and pair of sweatpants. Higher levels of heat use a lot of excess energy!

TIP! A solar oven is a fun and effective way to reduce your energy needs for cooking. You can make one with easy-to-find items like old windows, boxes, and aluminum foil to reflect light.

If you have a dishwasher, do not turn it on until it is full. It uses the same amount of energy and water, no matter how full it is. When the dishwasher is used, it is also important to use the main energy-saving feature, which air-dries the dishes.

If you’re one of many who wants to live an environmentally friendly life, there’s plenty you can do. You might not be capable of spending lots of money in going green, but there are simple things that you could do such as cleaning your furnace’s filters each month or by setting your heat at sixty degrees when you are not at home. Setting the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees will help reduce energy costs, too. Every little thing you do helps!

TIP! A home heating alternative to be considered is biofuel. Biofuels consist of vegetable or animal fats, wood and oils.

It is beneficial to maintain your refrigerator to keep it working efficiently. With the fridge being a top energy consumer in the home, maintenance is important for efficiency. Use your duster to clean around your heating coils on a regular basis. In addition to that, make the seal near the door clean and tight.

Start carpooling to take care of many of your daily tasks. Don’t think of it as just an option for commuting to work. Carpooling with other neighborhood parents to transport children back and forth to school not only saves you time, it sames you money. If you are located close to other families, agree to do your grocery shopping at the same time and rotate who drives each week.

Storm Windows

Remember that buying green technology is an investment that will pay off later. Green technology appliances can cost a bit more up front, but you will be paid back through lower energy bills for the life of the appliances. It is also going to ultimately pay off for the environment.

TIP! To make you home greener, install a programmable thermostat. It can save you a significant sum of money your monthly energy bills.

Air flow is better controlled in home that has stormed doors and windows installed. Storm windows and doors prevent cold air drafts filtering into openings. Energy efficiency can be increased up to 45% in a home with storm windows and doors.

Move your frozen foods from the freezer to the refrigerator when you are thawing them out. Thawing frozen foods in the fridge is safer. It also helps save energy by providing extra cold air for your refrigerator as the food thaws.

TIP! Use a dehumidifier. Air that contains more moisture generally feels warmer.

Lots of people want to go green but few put the effort in to actually make it happen. This article should rectify that and help you make good use of green energy.

Always switch off the lights when no one is in a room. For instance, use as little light as possible at night, and don’t leave lights on when you leave the room. Don’t forget to also turn off your porch and cabinet lighting when not in use. This will cut down on the amount of energy you use.