Conserve energy by unplugging chargers when you aren’t using them. Charging devices for several common types of electronics, including laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players all draw “phantom power” if you keep them plugged in while they are idle.
If you don’t know very much about green energy, this article will help you realize just how helpful green energy is, not only to the environment but to you as well. Read on for some advice on how to use green energy in your own home.
Do your laundry using cold water, if you can. Having heated water in your washer can use up to nine-tenths of the energy required to run a washing machine. Just make sure you don’t harm your clothes in the process; check out the labels on your clothes and make a judgment for yourself. Also, make sure your load is a full one so you do not waste energy washing several small loads.
Using less energy daily means large energy and financial savings. For example, when an appliance is not in use unplug it. Always turn off the television and lights when you are not using them. This is an excellent way of saving yourself some money.
When not using things, turn them off. When you exit a room, be sure to turn off any unused electronics or lights. Use power strips for your electronics, and make sure to turn it of when you are not using it. If it is in standby it’s still wasting power.
If you utilize a dishwasher, avoiding using it until it’s filled up. A half load uses the exact same amount of water and energy as a full one. Make sure you are using the energy saving settings on your dishwasher that will air-dry your dishes.
Don’t use your electric heater when you can avoid it. Wear several layers of warm clothes instead, and heat main rooms with a pellet stove or fireplace. An additional benefit to limiting the amount of electrical heaters is that it helps prevent your airways from becoming dry, resulting in better breathing.
When you plan a solar system for your home, try calculating what the energy generation of your system will be when you use hours worth of sun in the winter. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises during the winter months, while leaving you safely ahead of your needs during the summer. You may even get rebates from your utility company in summer months if you sign up for net usage and use solar panels.
Watch how many watts you use. You can do this by using Kill-A-Watt or Watt Minder gadgets. These will help you find where your energy is being consumed. Plug these gadgets into an appliance to find out how much energy is used in an hour, a month or a year. This is a good way to find out how much your appliances are really costing you.
Replace an energy-hogging water heating tank with a greener, tankless variety. While heaters that are tankless still need electricity or gas, they will not heat more water than you need, which is what a water tank heater does. Tankless heaters come in various models that either supply a single faucet or the whole house with hot water.
Carpooling for work and school activities can cut down on fuel usage. IF you’ve got kids, create a carpool system with other parents in the neighborhood. You can even carpool to the supermarket with your neighbors.
If you try to promote living sustainably then use your heater as little as you can during winter. Buy more warm clothing and use a fireplace to add heat to your home. Keep in mind, cooler air while sleeping makes your breathing better, and keeps your airways from getting too dry.
A good tip is to always microwave when cooking in order to save energy. The stove uses a good bit of energy. If you can cook things in the microwave instead, do it! This will help save a lot of energy.
Active Power
Look into bamboo products when purchasing wood items. Bamboo is technically grass but is just as strong as other woods. Bamboo is becoming very popular and growing to be made for cutting boards for hard wood floors. This saves energy needed to recycle and produce manufactured products.
Learn about the differences between passive and active solar power. Active power is energy that gets stored and is used later. Passive is energy that can be used without expensive cells. To use active power, you must install mechanical systems, cells and solar panels. Passive systems use the sun’s rays to store energy withing the walls of your home and are significantly cheaper.
If you can’t get renewable energy like solar to do your whole house, see if it’ll power one room. For instance, you can use panels that could be used to heat your home’s hot water.
After understanding these green energy tips, soon you’ll see how much it can benefit you. Obviously, green energy technologies are great for the future of our planet as well. Use the advice you have read in this article, and you will be well on your way to becoming green.
Buy an energy monitor for your home to monitor the energy you use there. These devices collect data about how much electricity your home is using, and provide an estimate of the next month’s bill based on this information. It’s been proven that people are likely to reduce energy consumption if they know exactly what they are using to run specific appliances and lighting.